BIKERS in Warwickshire are being encouraged to improve their riding skills to help keep them safe, after 13 riders died in collisions in the county last year and a further 73 suffered serious or life-changing injuries.
Warwickshire Police and partners are supporting the Project Edward campaign week, which takes place this week, for ‘every day without a road death’ by encouraging bikers to upskill.
The force is promoting BikeSafe, a police-led initiative supported by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, in which bikers spend a day learning from advanced police motorcyclists and take part in a professional police-observed ride to improve their skills, safety and enjoyment.
Sgt Shaun Bridle of Warwickshire Police, himself a keen biker, said: “We are encouraging bikers to upskill by attending courses such as BikeSafe and Biker Down to help them reduce risk and their chance of becoming a casualty on the roads.
“It’s an unfortunate reality that motorcyclists continue to be over-represented in collision figures, and injured or killed as a result of these collisions.
“Currently within Warwickshire, 40 per cent of our fatal collision investigations involve a motorcyclist and we’re keen to do all we can to bring these figures down.
“There is a clear appetite for BikeSafe within Warwickshire with all our available courses booked for this year and work starting already planning next year’s courses.”
Carol Close, who tragically lost her son Luke in a single vehicle motorcycle collision in August 2019 in Staffordshire, is a keen campaigner for improving motorcycling skills.
She said: “The day that Luke died part of me died too. I will never recover from the devastation and heartbreak, I am forever incomplete. He made the world a better place and touched the hearts of everyone he met.
“I urge all motorcyclists to please invest in yourselves. Sign up to a course that will help enhance your ride, learn how to prepare for the unexpected, and even how to save a fellow bikers life. It’s no use having the dream bike if you aren’t going to be here to ride it.”
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service also offer Biker Down, a free three hour course open to anyone to better equip bikers arriving first at the scene of a collision.
Moreno Francioso of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Biker Down answers critical questions such as how to assess who is most at risk following a collision and whether you should remove the helmet of a downed rider.
“The course also covers basic first aid and the science of being seen – how you can ride better to protect yourself, what you wear and how you position the bike to improve your safety on the road.”
Biker Down is delivered in partnership with a number of organisations including Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Road Safety Partnership.
James Luckhurst, who conceived Project Edward and is a Fellow of the Association for Road Risk Management (ARRM), said: “This year we have a whole week of activities planned to support the campaign for ‘every day without a road death’ with a particular focus on those who drive for work.
“Throughout the week, the Project Edward road trip will be stopping at multiple locations each day to share exciting content, knowledge, interviews and stories all linked to reducing risk and keeping those who drive for work safe. “
Visit www.bikesafe.co.uk and https://www.facebook.com/BikerDownWarwickshire for more information.
