HAMPSHIRE’S budget-threatened Bikesafe scheme is very much up and running for another year, once again coordinated by PC Mick Gear with strong backing from the county council and dealers J2 Honda, Crescent Suzuki and Bahnstormer BMW.

Mick said: “Last year was a poor year for motorcycle-related collisions in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – 24 riders and one child pillion passenger have lost their lives through motorcycle related collisions and at least eight riders suffered potentially life-threatening injuries that will change their lives for ever.”

Using buses across the county, the Hampshire road safety team have printed an huge image of a motorcyclist on the back of buses with the caption “See me now? Take longer to look for bikes” to encourage drivers to pay more attention to them.

It’s an initiative aimed at educating drivers and motorcyclists alike about mutual respect and awareness on the road. Research shows that 75 per cent of all motorcycle accidents involve a four-wheeled vehicle. In two-thirds of those, the vehicle caused the accident, most likely because the driver failed to look properly.

Ernie Sage, Hampshire’s road safety services manager, said: “A string of fatal collisions emphasised the need for reviving the safety campaign. In Hampshire last year, we had 544 accidents involving powered two-wheelers – 16 of those were, sadly, riders who lost their lives, and 144 others involved serious injury or hospitalisation.”

The statistics for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight show that 65 per cent of all motorcycle collisions happen at or near a junction, 35 per cent of these show that other vehicle drivers failed to appreciate or assess the path of the motorcyclist on the main road.

PC Gear will be running Bikesafe workshops again, with the council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue, on a monthly basis, starting next Sunday at an excellent value £75. To book for this or others on June 14, July 5, August 2, September 13 and October 4, call 01962 874600.

The most common themes present in many collisions are: ● Other vehicles emerging from junctions into the path of a rider ● Motorcycles overtaking other vehicles on the approach to a junction ● Filtering through traffic on motorways and dual carriageways at inappropriate speeds ● Group riding All these hazards could be reduced if riders use a systematic approach to how they ride, Bikesafe aims to give information to riders to reduce the risk of being involved in a collision.

Take extra care on the approach to garage/pub forecourts.