2010 Season Advice

[Hoody]

Here's an abstract from Grampian Police press release for the commencement of the 2010 season -Figures will be roughly the same nationally, and the advice is good

As spring fast approaches and you start thinking about digging out your leathers, helmet and boots can I ask you to pause for a moment before you go any further and consider the following.

Bikers are one of the smallest road user groups in the UK and form about 1% of total road users. Nationally however, we are one of the largest groups associated with road traffic collisions, making up about 20% of those killed or seriously injured. In the last five years 37 bikers have been killed and over 268 seriously injured on roads in the North East of Scotland. During 2009, of the 31 people who lost their lives in road traffic collisions, 8 of them were on a bike, that's 26% or 1 in 4.

Sadly already in 2010, we have seen our first fatality, and we are fast approaching double figures for those who have been seriously injured.

For all these collisions no single cause has been responsible, however time and time again, it 's the same few rider behaviours which catch folk out and lead to serious or fatal consequences.

· Too fast

· Inappropriate overtaking

· Poor positioning

· Poor observations

What can you do?

Before you turn the key and the excitement and enjoyment take over, take a moment to stop and reflect on what you are about to do and what rules you are going to set yourself. Sometimes the simple things are the ones we forget first, so here's a bit of help.

· Bike maintenance - Look after your bike and it'll look after you. After months of it sitting in the garage or shed take the time to have your bike checked over and serviced properly.

· Wear the right kit - All the gear, all of the time, even for short trips. It may cost a little more, but wearing proper equipment all the time will make a difference.

· Slow down - It's a speed limit, not a target. Contrary to popular belief, speed limits are set for safety . The major causation in 1 in 5 of all motorcycle collisions is too much speed.

· Be seen - Use your headlight & Hi Viz kit. During any journey make yourself as visible as you can, ride with your lights on and wear something that makes you stand out.

· Don't take unnecessary risks when overtaking, if in doubt hold back. Evaluate before you overtake - look for hazards.

· Bends require skill - Position, Speed, Gear. Position yourself safely in the right place, at the right speed and with the right gear engaged for every bend. Remember we have had a long winter and grit and debris are common on rural roads.

· Always ride defensively - Expect the unexpected, don't take things for granted, read the road and other road users.

· Get some extra training - Bikes are performing better all of the time, are you? The best performance modification you can make to any motorcycle is to improve the skills of its rider.

What are we doing about it?

During 2010, Road Safety Grampian, along with the association of motorcycle dealers for the North East of Scotland, Moray, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Councils, the North East Camera Safety Partnership and Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership will launch and support Operation Zenith which will look to engage, educate and where necessary, enforce these simple rules.

What else can you do?

Acquire some extra skills. To help you to get more from your biking, we will again be running Bikesafe in association with the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorcyclist) . These one day courses cost £20 and can be booked through Road Safety Grampian. For more information go to the Grampian Police website, or if your are unable to attend a Bikesafe course, contact IAM directly and arrange further training through them.

In conjunction with the North East Safety Camera Partnership (NESCAMP), Moray and Aberdeenshire Roads Authorities we have identified three good biking routes which have been ridden by the Grampian Police Motorcycle Section. These routes have been checked from a biker's perspective and commentary on them and how to ride them safely will be added to the 'aroundthecorner' website in the near future. This site will also give you similar routes across Scotland, along with other relevant motorcycling information.

During the course of this summer our Road Safety staff will be out and about at the various 'tea stops', so take the opportunity to speak to them and get some advice on how to get the most from your biking.

Operation Zenith will run for the whole of the biking season during 2010, if you want more information on it please go to the Grampian Police website (http://www.grampianpolice.org) or Around the Corner website (http://www.aroundthecorner.org.uk ) or ask at your local motorbike dealer.

Before you turn the key..... think!

Thanks

Jim Wood

Road Policing Inspector