A NEW CAMPAIGN encouraging motorists take a second look for bikers has been launched.
It comes as new figures from the North East of England revealed the devastating impact of biker collisions in the region, where over half of all bike crashes result in the rider being either seriously injured or killed.
Over 800 bikers were seriously injured between 2019 and 2023, with 57 killed. The majority of casualties were under 35, and a third of fatalities were aged between 16 and 24.
The new campaign – called Life on a Bike – has been organised by Road Safety GB North East (RSGB NE) in conjunction with local police and fire services.
It highlights the huge impact road collisions have, not only on the people directly involved, but their wider families, friends, and work colleagues. It also offers some important messages for both four-wheel motorists and two-wheel riders.
Peter Slater, chair of RSGB NE, said the concern was that a large percentage of serious crashes were caused by a failure to look, by either the biker or drivers, or because the motorcyclist lost control of the bike.
Peter said: “Bikers are vulnerable, so we see high fatality and injury rates, and nobody wants that on their conscience. But too often collisions occur that could so easily have been avoided.
“We are appealing to drivers to take a second look for bikes – it could save a life. And we need bikers to slow down, to ride for the conditions and the roads, and to scan the road ahead for hazards. They need to prepare for what other road users might do.”
A number of bikers have backed the campaign. Suzy Baylin, 59, from Marton in Middlesbrough, said her top tip for her fellow bikers was “to remember that safety is paramount. My top tip for both bikers and drivers is to look, wait and look again. You never know what could be coming around the corner.”
Biker Les Adam, 32, said he wanted “drivers to keep an eye out for us on the roads. We might be smaller and less visible, but we are part of the traffic just like everyone else. My tip for all road users is to look twice and remember there’s a life on that bike.”
Sean Smith, community engagement manager at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said it was important that bikers “moderate their speed and read the road ahead.”
