Keep safe on the roads

Cumbria Police is urging motorcyclists to make safety their main priority when they take to the county’s roads this bank holiday weekend.

More than a third of all serious and fatal collisions in the county involve large high powered motorcycles and crash numbers can rise as much as 47 per cent from July to September countywide. So officers from Cumbria Roads Policing Unit and the Road Safety Partnership are trying to hit the message home to riders to slow down and enjoy our roads safely over the bank holiday weekend and beyond.

Inspector Richard Vernon of the South Cumbria Road Policing Unit said: "We have seen a number of collisions recently where large motorcycles have lost control on a bend and crashed without any other vehicles being involved. In the last three weeks alone three such collisions have occurred on Sundays at the A592 Kirkstone Pass. In South Cumbria motorcycle crashes make up just over half of all serious and fatal collisions so we are appealing to riders to make safety their main priority.

“In the majority of the recent crashes riders were going too fast for the road or beyond their own riding ability so I want to remind riders that you never know what is around the next bend so make sure you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear. We will be stepping up dedicated roads policing patrols on weekends over the coming weeks to challenge irresponsible riding.

"We live in an amazing part of the country and our motorcycle routes are a fantastic attraction, however it needs to be accepted that riding is still a vulnerable activity and comes with great responsibility. Our message to riders hoping to enjoy the Cumbrian roads this weekend is to do so safely and responsibly. Think of your quality of life and how easily it could be destroyed if you do not take care - not to mention the people around you who need you to arrive home safe.”

Cumbria Police are committed to working with motorcyclists to reduce collisions and our advanced motorcyclists are always willing to give advice and riding tips. They run a successful Bikesafe scheme which offers advanced motorcycle riding sessions to bikers using the county’s roads. These are free to attend and will help motorcyclists, both experienced and those just starting out, to develop their riding skills.

For more information on the courses and responsible riding contact Cumbria Roads Policing Unit on 0845 33 00 247 or visit www.cumbria.police.uk or the Bikesafe website http://www.bikesafe.co.uk/