Motorcycle campaign asks ‘are you looking out for me?’

09.59 | 20 April 2018 | | 4 comments

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership has re-launched the Hugger campaign in an effort to reduce the risks faced by motorcyclists on the county’s roads.

The campaign, which uses the recognisable ‘Hugger’ character, specifically targets drivers of cars, vans and lorries, encouraging them to look out for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists make up only 0.8% of traffic on Essex roads but are involved in over 25% of all collisions involving death or serious injury – making them the highest risk road-user group.

Research also suggests that a significant proportion of motorcycle collisions are deemed to be the fault of the other vehicle.

In 2017, there were 451 recorded injury collisions involving motorcyclists in Essex; 211 of these (47%) involved somebody failing to look properly and 259 (57%) were at give-way junctions.

Throughout April, road-users will see ‘Hugger’ billboard and petrol pump advertising placed in key locations, reminding road-users to look out for motorcyclists. In addition, buses travelling around the main towns across Essex will display the ‘Hugger’ character, while radio advertising will also be aired during the month.

Andy Stroulger, road traffic collision reduction manager, said: “We hope the campaign raises drivers’ awareness of motorcyclists and encourages them to keep their eyes alert for bikes  at all times – but particularly at roundabouts, junctions and whilst filtering in traffic.”

The Hugger campaign will run until the middle of May.


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    Pat, where I live instead of just having the normal 100 metres of strips two of them have 200 metres at jaw breaking height. OK for most if not all cars, but murderously dangerous for motorcyclists. I don’t believe that some engineers care or give consideration about anything other than cars. It is usual also to finish the count down stripes before any bend just prior to a roundabout but some do continue into it as you have stated and they are the most dangerous ones.


    R.Craven
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    Still on roundabouts, the count down stripes on the approach to major roundabouts on national speed limit trunk roads are also often slippery in the wet. Just what you don’t need on a bike when braking, especially if the approach is on a bend. Seems almost as if the trunk road engineers are conspiring against motorcyclists when the odds stack up like this.


    Pat, Wales
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    Quite right Bob – driving over the centre of mini-roundabouts or even anti-clockwise around them, is one of the most common offences/faults of vehicle drivers.


    Hugh Jones
    Agree (1) | Disagree (0)
    +1

    The vast majority of smidsys happen at or on main arterial roads or regularly used routes around or through a town and at roundabouts both large and many more on mini ones. The vast majority of Smidsys happen a lot to other road users cars, vans etc and not just two wheelers. However they create a greater danger to scooters and motorbikes and indeed bicycles. It is apparent that on mini roundabouts there is a central reservation being up to 15 cm. high in the middle. That creates an adverse camber for two wheeled vehicles whilst turning right. It is further dangerous if wet as it becomes extremely slippy. Stats show that some 60% plus of collisions or incidents involving a two wheeled vehicle also involve another vehicle. The reminder obviously don’t, being just the two wheeler itself.

    I know that the rules say that one should not drive over the central reservation but unfortunately most cars do and if one is riding a two wheeled vehicle and being followed by a car one will know that its extremely dangerous to follow the lawful route round it as one can be side winded by other following or entering vehicles.

    Perhaps some road safety authority or organisation could take a long look at that danger as it needs a re hash of mini roundabouts, where the central island should be much smaller, not more than say 2/3ft and have no height to it and be of a non slip material. That would alleviate many accidents, injuries and perhaps some deaths.


    Bob Craven
    Agree (4) | Disagree (0)
    +4

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