Hampshire Constabulary: Police issue plea for safe riding after 11 motorcycle fatalities

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Police issue plea for safe riding after 11 motorcycle fatalities

Press Releases

Published: 14/07/2008

Hampshire Constabulary is issuing a plea to motorcyclists to take care on the roads after 11 riders have lost their lives in fatal crashes so far this year.

National Motorcycle Week started on Saturday (July 12) and the constabulary is taking the opportunity to remind motorcyclists about the importance of safe riding.

In the latest collision, which happened on July 4, 25-year-old Carl Williams of Genoa Court, Andover, died after he was involved in a collision with a silver Ford Focus on Saxon Way, Andover.

He suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

In 2007, 18 motorcyclists lost their lives in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and by this time last year 11 riders had tragically died.Hampshire Constabulary Bike Safe coordinator, PC Mick Gear, said:

“The high number of fatalities this year comes despite the police regularly engaging with riders at bike meets across Hampshire and continuing to promote safe riding through attendance at public events across the two counties and marketing of our Bike Safe advanced rider workshops.“

All of the Bike Safe workshops we have run this year have been extremely successful and we are getting some very positive feedback.

“Many collisions could be avoided if riders had followed basic riding rules, yet the motorcyclists we come into contact with following serious or fatal crashes have not read the road properly and are not weighing up the risks.”

Riders are reminded that speed and junctions continue to be a major factor in collision causation, along with failing to see and read the actions of other road users.For more information on Hampshire’s Bike Safe workshops visit the Hampshire Constabulary pages at www.bikesafe.co.uk.

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