New young biker campaign launched

The Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership has launched a campaign aimed at reducing the number of young bikers injured on the county’s roads.

While Staffordshire roads are among the safest in the country, 16-25 year olds account for almost half of the motorcycle casualties. Last year 259 bikers were involved in road traffic collisions, 110 of whom were young riders.

The campaign includes a new app, ‘Biker Jack’, which uses a series of ‘quirky’ videos highlighting the issues young riders face, giving tips on safe riding and the consequences of unsafe riding. 

The app, available free for download through Apple or the Googlestore, also provides information on what to do in case of an accident and has a GPS tracker to find a biker’s exact location.

The campaign also includes the opportunity to win motorcycling gear through a number of competitions linked to the videos.

As part of the campaign there will also be a series of countywide ‘Young Rider Meets’ which give riders and their parents the opportunity to meet with experienced bikers, road safety professionals and other young riders.

Councillor Mark Deaville, Staffordshire County Council said: “Staffordshire has some of the safest roads in the country, and last year we had the lowest number of road traffic casualties since records began in 1984.

“One of the areas we are keen to improve on is the number of young bikers seriously injured on our roads and this latest campaign will help remind them of the importance of riding safely.

“The new app and videos will help young riders gain more knowledge of road safety in a fun way and our information events will give them a chance to talk with more experienced riders and get some top tips.

“Wearing the correct gear will also protect riders and reduce the risk of serious injuries; young riders may find this gear expensive but it makes a big difference to their safety. We’re also encouraging parents to help provide the gear for their children.”

FOOTNOTE:
Biker Jack will be officially launched on 2 July at The Potteries Museum, Stoke-on-Trent. Road safety professionals are invited to attend – for more information or to book a place contact Kevin Wilcox at the Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership on 07855 336922.