North Yorkshire Police are warning bikers to heed safety advice ahead of this weekend’s Superbike championships at Croft.
The grim death count on the county’s road this year has prompted senior road policing officers to plead with bikers not to become fatality number 17 on the increasing toll of fatal statistics.
Over the past 14 days five people have died as a result of motorcycle collisions in North Yorkshire. Four riders and a pillion passenger.
North Yorkshire’s Deputy Chief Constable, Adam Briggs, who is also the UK Council and Executive member for TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, says “enough is enough” as his officers prepare for another busy weekend with thousands of bikers expected to descend on the county.
Mr Briggs said: “This weekend will see motorcycle riders flock to North Yorkshire from all over the country. So far we have seen 16 bikers killed on our roads this year – with five in the space of 14 days – and the biking season is still in full swing. This is already higher than last year’s total of 15 for the entire year. We simply do not want another needless and preventable death and all the heartache that goes with it.
“Therefore I am pleading with motorcyclists, the vast majority of whom are safe and sensible riders, to please take care and ride safely.
“Think of your families and the effect it would have on them if you left for a great weekend but did not return home. The same applies to car drivers and other road users, please look out for bikers and drive within the law.
“My officers and colleagues from Durham and Cleveland police will be patrolling the roads around Croft and the routes leading to it. We will deal swiftly with risk-takers who endanger themselves and the public.”
Police investigating the collision near Tadcaster on 25 August in which Dean and Helen Slater were killed, have released a new photograph of the couple supplied by Helen’s family. Officers hope this sobering reminder of how lives can be snatched away will make bikers and drivers stop and think – This could be you, your family or friend.
North Yorkshire County Council’s Director of Business and Environmental Services, David Bowe, who is Chair of 95 Alive added: “Nationally around 25 per cent of fatalities are motorcyclists; so far this year in York and North Yorkshire they account for over 50 per cent of people killed on our roads. On average around 80 per cent of collisions involving motorcycles in the county are due to rider error, and just a minor error on a bike can have fatal consequences.
“There is now mounting concern over motorcyclists riding in groups, and we’re appealing to bikers to think about their journey before they set off, how they’re riding, the speed, the cornering and the braking. Please watch the YouTube videos and take on board the stories of people who have to live every day with the reality of a motorcycle crash.”
Victim’s stories
The 95 Alive York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership have recently launched a series of videos on You Tube in a bid to drive home the safety message.
View Sarah McCarthy’s story.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ninety5alive#p/a/u/1/2St0lNKSY2I
Sarah’s husband Stuart was killed in a motorcycle crash in 2009. She talks about the ‘worst day of her life’ when she had to break the news to her little girl that daddy would not be coming home.
View Luke’s story
http://www.youtube.com/user/ninety5alive#p/a/u/2/LFg_-EdS2vs
Luke Delahunty talks about how being seriously injured in a motorbike crash ten years ago has changed his life.
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