Ride safely this summer
An operation to reduce the number of deaths and injuries involving motorcyclists on Derbyshire roads, called Operation Focus, is running until September 2012.
There were 136 motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads in 2011 compared to 94 the previous year.
Funded by the Derby and Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership, this campaign hopes to reduce this figure by encouraging riders to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others.
Police will patrol the roads where collisions are most common, which include the A5012 Via Gellia, A57 Snake Pass and the A6 between Ambergate and Buxton.
The partnership will also host an event for bikers on Easter Sunday, April 8, at Matlock Bath’s Pavillion car park. Between 1pm and 4pm, motorcyclists will be able to pick up a free safety guide and find out more about BikeSafe workshops.
Bikesafe
BikeSafe is an initiative run by police forces around the United Kingdom who work with the whole of the biking world to help to lower the number of motorcycle rider casualties. By passing on their knowledge, skills and experience, police motorcyclists can help you become a safer more competent rider.
We recommend that you visit the external web site for BikeSafe at
http://www.bikesafe.co.uk|
Drivers in general need to constantly Think Bike as well. This applies to situations when you are turning into, or out of, a junction and when you are conducting an unusual manoeuvre such as a U-turn from a line of traffic.
When they learn to ride, motorcyclists have drummed into them the necessity of a shoulder check whenever they turn. This isn't always such a bad idea for a car driver either, as the blind spot between the interior and offside mirror can be deceptively large on some vehicles.