Police respond to rising fatalities

Welsh police are reacting to the highest number of motorcycle fatalities ever recorded on their roads, and posting the finger at a lack of rider skill training

Since January 18 motorcyclists have died on Welsh roads, mainly on unrestricted country roads. The number of fatalities has risen from 10 in 2001, and just seven last year.

North Wales police Chief Superintendant Geraint Anwyl said that in nine out of ten cases it was the riders who were responsible for their own deaths. The majority are at risk on sunny Sunday afternoons, and on left-hand bends.

" Many are ‘born again bikers’ with insufficient skills who’ve got more cash and bought themselves powerful motorcycles, " said Anwyl. " They haven’t got the skills to get themselves out of trouble. I’d advice anyone considering going back to biking to sign up for some training. "

This year is also the first year for North Wales police’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy towards speeding bikers.

In June 2003, local MP Mark Tami called for warning signs to be put up for bikers after many roads became known as accident black spots. At the same time, Deputy Chief Constable for North Wales, Bill Brereton advocated a ‘caution plus’ scheme which allowed speeders to avoid points by signing up for a BikeSafe training programme.

Does this rise in casualties mean that ‘Zero Tolerance’ for bikers is failing? If you’re worried figures like these might lead to a clampdown on bikers, see MCN, out November 12, for MCN’s campaign to save biking.