Improving safety for motorcyclists in the UK

A new safety campaign in the UK is commencing that is focussing on car drivers. These drivers are being urged to visualise the motorcycle rider and take more care at junctions. This campaign has been timed to coincide with the anticipated increase in the numbers of motorcyclists returning to the roads during the second quarter of 2013. This campaign encourages drivers to take longer to look for motorcyclists and think about the biker, not just the bike. Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said, “Motorcycli
March 14, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A new safety campaign in the UK is commencing that is focussing on car drivers. These drivers are being urged to visualise the motorcycle rider and take more care at junctions. This campaign has been timed to coincide with the anticipated increase in the numbers of motorcyclists returning to the roads during the second quarter of 2013. This campaign encourages drivers to take longer to look for motorcyclists and think about the biker, not just the bike. Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said, “Motorcyclists account for just 1% of traffic but 19% of deaths on Britain’s roads and 30 bikers are killed or injured in accidents at junctions every day.”

Accident statistics show that motorists pulling out in front of motorcyclists are a major cause of deaths and injuries. Wider research shows that drivers are more likely to notice motorcyclists on the roads if they know a biker themselves. In 2011, 5,609 motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured with 74% of these occurring in accidents involving another vehicle, and 69% of these casualties happened at junctions. The number of accidents increases significantly during March and April as improved weather encourages more motorcyclists onto the road.

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