Watch out for motorbikes!

Motorcyclists account for a quarter of all road users killed or seriously injured on Gloucestershire’s roads. When compared to the relatively small number of motorcyclists on our roads, this figure is disproportionately high.
One of Gloucestershire’s Road Safety Partnership’s priorities is to reduce these figures and they will be putting up black and yellow road signs next week on key motorcycle casualty routes which ask motorists to THINK BIKE!
The signs have successfully contributed to reducing the number of collisions on signposted routes over the past two years.  On average, there has been a 55% reduction in serious injuries during the signage campaigns.
Cllr Stan Waddington, Cabinet member with responsibility for road safety said: “With nicer weather on its way, more motorcyclists will be tempted out onto Gloucestershire’s roads. 
“The THINK BIKE signs are being placed on roads where previous collisions have taken place.  They are a striking reminder to all road users to look properly before pulling out or overtaking at all times and to remind bikers to look out for the signs and take extra care on bends and in traffic.”
The routes where the THINK BIKE signs will be located are:
•    A40 Northleach junction to Little Barrington
•    A435 Cowley junction to Cirencester
•    A433 from Tetbury to Didmarton
•    A417 Hartpury to Bromesberrow
•    A436 Adoversford

The signs will be in place next week and will remain until October.

To read more about the work of the Partnership, visit www.roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk

Gloucestershire Motorcycle Casualties
Year            Fatal           Serious         Slight         
*2009           4               51                      98
2008            3               42                      102
2007            9               45                      142

Percentage of total casualties
Year            Fatal           Serious         Slight
*2009           20              25                      7
2008            8               19                      6
2007            23              21                      8

*2009 provisional figures
The signs have been designed to address the most common causation factors of; failing to look properly, poor turning or manoeuvring, failing to judge another person’s path or speed.

Contact: Chris Harrison, Motorcycling Coordinator, Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership
 Issued by Jayne Bailey, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team. Telephone: 01452 425093

21st April 2010