Keeping those on two wheels safe

In the last three years across our Police force area, 41 people lost their lives in collisions involving a motorcycle and 319 people were seriously injured, a further 5 people died and 148 were seriously injured in collisions involving a bicycle.

Keeping those who choose to use our roads on two wheels safe is a year-round priority for us across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, with road safety sitting at the heart of Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion’s West Mercia Safer Communities Plan.

This month we will be supporting a national operation to highlight and raise awareness of the work roads policing officers, local policing teams and communities do every day to tackle these issues to reduce the number of road users on two wheels that are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

Cyclists and motorcyclists unfortunately feature heavily in road collisions.  The Highway Code now places more responsibility on those road users who have potential to cause the greatest harm, helping to improve the safety for people walking, cycling and riding.

This national operation is an opportunity to raise awareness of this amongst all road users and to improve driver behaviour when sharing the road with those on two wheels. It is also an opportunity to educate those using cycles and motorbikes of the dangers of not having the correct skills, knowledge and personal protective equipment.

Inspector Darren Godsall for West Mercia Police comments: “Supporting this national operation with local activity and increased enforcement is an important way to raise road safety awareness among cyclists, motorcyclists and all other road users. Cyclists and motorcyclists remain over‑represented in collision statistics, and we are committed to doing everything we can, through both education and enforcement, to bring this down and to keep these groups safer. This doesn’t mean only targeted work with riders themselves, but also engaging with all motorists on the vital role they play in protecting those on two wheels”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “I know, having spoken with the relatives and friends of those who sadly lost their lives on our roads, the pain and devastation this has had on them. One road death is one too many, and it is a sad fact that motorcyclists are more likely to come to harm than any other road user, which is why making West Mercia’s roads safer for all road users is a key focus of my Safer Communities Plan. This month and throughout the year, I will continue to support West Mercia Police with its enforcement activity, as well as providing funding to support partners to deliver a number of educational initiatives aimed at reducing the harm caused on our roads.” 

Throughout the operation officers will be taking part in various activities to enforce compliance of road traffic regulations and improve driver/rider behaviour.