LAUNCH OF BIKESAFE SCOTLAND, TUESDAY 7 MARCH 2000 AT MCS MOTORCYCLES, 18-20 FULBAR STREET, RENFREW AT 10.30AM
The Scottish Police Service will urge motorcyclists that it's "Time To
React", when it launches a major joint drive with Britain's two biggest
motorcycle organisations to cut deaths and injuries to Scotland's motorcycling
community on Tuesday 7 March 2000.
The nationwide, multi-agency initiative will see all eight Scottish Police Forces rally together with the British Motorcyclists' Federation and the Motorcycle Action Group in an effort to reduce casualties on Scotland's roads using a combination of education, encouragement and enforcement.
This is the first initiative of its kind which actually gets motorcyclists and dealers on board a police campaign to put safety into top gear by educating bikers on the dangers of speeding and irresponsible riding behaviour. Former World Endurance and Isle of Man TT Superbike champion, Brian Morrison will be on-hand at the launch to endorse the drive but the initiative is also supported by ex-World Superbike Champion, Niall McKenzie and current Isle of Man TT Champion, Jim Moodie.
Although motorcycle road deaths have almost halved since the record-high 1981 - 85 average, when approximately 73 bikers were killed each year, there are still almost 1,000 motorcyclists either killed or injured on Scotland's roads every year. In 1998 alone, there were 33 motorcycle deaths in Scotland, with a further 943 seriously or slightly injured. This figure represents a reduction of 72 percent on the Government's Year 2000 target but over 30 dead each year in motorcycle crashes is still too large a number considering that motorcycles and scooters account for around only 2 percent of all registered vehicles in Scotland.
Evidence indicates that many road accidents occur at corners while riding at an inappropriate speed. This, linked with poor observation, is a problem that will be addressed in police-assessed rides - one of the main features of the campaign. All police motorcyclists receive advanced training at the Scottish Police College to a national standard, which is held in high regard by all motorcyclists. Bikers will be offered the opportunity to participate in an assessed police ride, which will give them pointers on cornering, braking and observation so they have time to react to situations.
The fact that there are now more motorcyclists and scooter riders in Scotland than ever before is an added worry for road accident statisticians with sales reaching record levels in the past five years when the UK motorcycle and scooter market trebled. The rise in the number of youngsters taking up motorcycling and a return to the road for so-called "born-again bikers" has contributed to the booming motorcycle market.
1999 witnessed a further 20 percent increase in motorcycle and scooter sales over 1998, when sales increased initially by 30 percent on the previous year. Last year alone, a total of 152,400 motorcycles and scooters were sold in the UK with sports bikes accounting for 33 percent of the total market.
The thrust of the campaign features a working strategy which will be closely followed by all eight Scottish Police Forces. Some of the main features of this strategy include: -
*Approximately 1,000 assessed rides will be carried out by police officers throughout the country each year providing feedback to motorcyclists
*Dealers will receive visits from police motorcyclists and be encouraged to actively support the Bikesafe Scotland Initiative. Dealers will be asked to make motorcyclists aware of the Bikesafe Scotland campaign and of the availability of assessed rides
*Educate motorcyclists on bike security and tackle bike crime by patrolling high theft hot spots and in some areas, distributing leaflets on bike protection and safety
*High profile policing of prominent accident locations to enforce speed limits and careless riding
*A series of talks providing advice on the benefits of protective clothing will be given to a number of motorcyclists
Mr David Strang, Assistant Chief Constable at Lothian and Borders Police and representative for the ACPOS Road Policing Standing Committee, said: -
"This national initiative aims to reduce the occurrence of motorcycle crashes on Scotland's roads and to cut the number of deaths and injuries caused by such accidents. Over 5000 leaflets have been printed and will be distributed to motorcyclists, dealers and other motorcycle-related outlets to publicise the Bikesafe Scotland campaign.
"By working together with motorcyclists and their representative groups, we can all help to make Scotland's roads a safer place. This initiative is a starting point in the on-going process of driver and rider education which is of benefit to every road user.
"Bikesafe Scotland is an excellent example of the Scottish Police Service working in partnership with outside agencies, in this case, the Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists' Federation. I would urge every motorcyclist to consider the advice offered through this initiative and to continue to ride safely."
For further information on the national BIKESAFE initiative, please contact Carolynne Coole or Gaynor Weir at Strathclyde Police Media Services on 0141 532 2812/2164. For individual Force information, please contact the relevant Force press officer.