Myth of speeding motorcyclists exposed

WITH an apparently increasing number of residents in rural areas complaining about bikes speeding through their quiet villages, here’s some figures that should shut them up.

After the Parish councils of Teesdale and Weardale recently accused bikers and tourists of repeated speeding along the B6277 through their villages, police set up traps to clamp down on the problem. However, out of 500 drivers stopped and prosecuted, none were on two wheels and only 40 of them – less than 10 per cent – were not from the local area.

A police spokesman said: ” People tend to think the problem is caused by bikers and tourists, but most of the time it is local people. ”