Safety video champions safer riding in Scotland

A new promo video has been released, urging motorcyclists to adopt safe riding habits when exploring Scotland’s great biking roads.

Titled ‘The Devil’s Beeftub’, the film is part of a larger Road Safety Scotland initiative and the ‘Live Fast, Die Old’ video series.

Filmed in the Borders region of the country, the clip follows five motorcyclists on a group ride and highlights a series of potential dangers, including parked cars, stray sheep in the road and blind bends.

Speaking about the scheme, Director of Road Safety Scotland, Michael McDonnell, said: “We’re now well into biking season and as the weather improves, the roads are busier and bikers set off with their friends to enjoy the stunning scenery that Scotland has to offer.

“We understand the thrill of biking and don’t want to take that away, but we want to ensure that groups of motorcyclists are looking out for each other on the road and practising safe manoeuvres together.” 

The campaign comes as statistics in 2018 found that motorcyclists made up 20% of all Scottish road traffic fatalities, yet consisted of less than 1% of all road users.

May, June and August are the worst months for riders being killed or seriously injured too, with 11am to 5pm at the weekends posing the most risk. What’s more, casualties also increased by 3% between 2017 and 2018 – rising from 620 to 640 incidents.

Research also showed that riders between 50 and 54 are the most at risk, with males accounting for 92% of casualties.

Analysis of these incidents by Scottish Police in March 2019 revealed that in three-quarters of collisions injuring a biker, they were the contributing factor. This was put down to a number of reasons, including failure to look and loss of control.

“We are aware bikers face greater risks than any other road user,” Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, said. “We are committed to raising awareness of the dangers they encounter on Scotland’s roads and reducing the number of those killed or seriously injured.

“Through using the voices of the biking community, the Live Fast, Die Old campaign is fundamental in highlighting best practice. I’d encourage any motorcyclist who is planning to explore Scotland to ride appropriately for the conditions and always consider other roads users, particularly if you’re riding as part of a group.”

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