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Police biker safety campaign to 'educate the public'

Ross Pollard & Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley
BBC News, west of England
BBC William wearing black and blue motorcycle leathers with short curly hair, smiling at the camera. There are people loitering in the background in a car park with a few other motorbikes in view.BBC
William Tucker said everyone around him always warns him to "go safe" on the road

Motorbike riders have to ride "defensively" because drivers do not look out for them, some have told the BBC.

To highlight these issues with road safety Avon and Somerset Police has ed a national campaign to reduce fatalities on two-wheeled vehicles.

According to the force, there have been 28 fatal collisions involving powered two-wheel vehicles since January 2023.

William Tucker, 22, from Somerset said everyone around him always warn him to "go safe - don't push it too hard".

Mykel wearing a dark hoodie and a grey backpack with short light brown hair smiling at the camera. There are people loitering in the background in a car park with a few other motorbikes in view.
Mykel Brereton said he has had a few "near misses" on his motorbike

"You get some car s who don't see the bikes," he said.

"It is part of the risk of having a bike - you have to ride quite defensively otherwise you will come to grief."

Mykel Brereton, 23, from Watchet who has had a few "near misses" said it is "all great until you need to pull out somewhere".

"People don't look out you and think you're small so think they can beat your bike. It's not good at all," he said.

Alaistair Wearing a black hoodie with short dark hair smiling at the camera. There are people loitering in the background in a car park with a few other motorbikes in view.
Alaistair lockwoud warned other riders to be careful to "not become another statistic"

Alaistair Lockwood, 24, from Taunton said a "big part of biking" is the "kind" community that looks out for each other.

"Just don't be another statistic - as long as you're aware that other road s are a hazard to you," he said.

As part of the national road safety campaign Avon and Somerset Police said it would take on extra measures including, patrols of high-risk routes and use of drones.

Matt wearing his police uniform and black rimmed glasses, with short dark hair smiling at the camera. He is standing in a police car park with police cars and a police motorbike in the background.
Matt Boiles from Avon Somerset Police the campaign is about "educating the public" on risky behaviour

Matt Boiles from Avon Somerset Police explained that the campaign is not just "focusing on bikes and prosecuting bikers".

"It's about educating the public as a whole to the risks that bikers are exposed to and the risks they expose themselves by their riding," he said.

The campaign takes place from 2-15 June.

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