Image: Sussex Police
Vulnerable road users in Sussex are being urged to take extra care this summer following a spate of fatal collisions.
In a press release issued on Friday (23 June), Sussex Police revealed that 27 people have been killed in crashes in the county so far this year, eight of which have been either motorcycle riders or passengers.
With hundreds more involved in serious collisions, police officers are urging all road users to take extra care during the summer months – a time when levels of motorcycling tend to increase.
Sussex Police is also encouraging motorcyclists to take more responsibility for their safety by adhering to road legislation, taking fewer risks and riding within their own capabilities.
Sgt Phil Badman, Surrey and Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit (RPU), said: “Bikers can improve their own safety by adhering to road legislation, as every user should do. They should also take care in heavy traffic, be mindful of other vehicles’ movements and don’t be tempted to take risks, no matter how competent a rider you think you are.
“Often the machine is far more capable of riding at high speeds than the rider is. No one should push beyond their own limits, especially if, for example, they are trying to keep up with more skilled riders ahead of them.
“You can also improve your visibility by wearing bright coloured clothing or hi-vis clothing, and by turning your lights on.
“It is, of course, the responsibility of all road users to follow the rules and beware of others around them, and in summer this can include motorcyclists, pedal cyclists and horse riders in particular.”
The Sussex Police plea comes shortly after Surrey and Sussex RPU pledged its support for the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) week of action (24-31 May) which focused on motorcycling.
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We have had some good weather earlier this year and that brings out the pocket rocket and back to biking brigade and the fair weather riders who after the winter break need to hone their skills first and not push to the limits as they do. They have to take their time and not push the envelope as they and their bikes bed in so to speak.
Another problem is Space or rather a lack of it. It is one thing that some bikers fail to understand and if it is not being taken into account can obviously be extremely dangerous.
This in part is due to the training that all the motorcycle training bodies and many videos give. They are all saying the same thing as they are following the guidelines in the Police Roadcraft Manual. This matter is with regards to tailgating by the motorcyclists and of encouraging the close contact with the vehicle to be overtaken and degree of expediency to overtake. As a result some overtakes are being made unnecessarily and if not over the speed limit then certainly at speeds inappropriate to the road and all other circumstances.
One should never sacrifice safety for the sake of expediency to overtake and every endeavour should be made to reduce overtakes as much as possible and that would in many instances save riders lives.
For far to long we have suffered high numbers and % of KSIs on overtakes alone and its about time we began to look closely as to why these overtakes are occurring and to discourage rather than encourage overtakes that place a rider in an increasingly insidious position.
Bob Craven Lancs
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