Road Safety

Well summer is coming soon, a happy time for most of us who enjoy a good ride through the twisties. Unfortunately I made the mistake of going into Wales on a sunday morning, totally against my principles and better judgement.

I bought myself a low mileage Ducati 999, two weeks ago, and like a big kid (i’m 54 and been riding for nearly fourty years), decided to try her out. Street legal pipes, chipped and sounding great. Not too noisy, but “legal”. Number plate like a sandwich board, tax on display…. leathers on, not speeding (honest). A recipe for a nice ride up to the Ponderosa cafe….

Some nice car drivers flashed me to indicate a problem in the road. Slowing to around 30mph, I saw the problem…..A contingent of Welsh fun Police!!! who promtly pulled me over as well as a couple of other bikes (not one car tho). Inspected me and my bike with a fine toothcombe…then a little squeal of delight…..(please excuse poetic licence) the letters on my sandwich board, (courtesy of the previous owner) did not meet the statutory requirements, they were the correct size and shape but were not the correct style….my own fault you may say!

What I found particularly galling was the way in which the Welsh constabulary gave me a piece of paper, and a ticket for £30. The ticket for £30 no surprise, the piece of paper telling me that it was in the interest of reducing motorcycle casualties!!! What part of this episode saved me from hurting myself, or others?

As a senior Safety manager in the nuclear industry, I am at a loss as to what may have befallen me, what it has done is ensure I once again never venture into that darkest of places on a sunday morning.