During June, Warwickshire Police officers will be out and about across the county’s roads with the aim of helping motorcyclists enjoy their outings safely. Last year, 57 motorbike riders died or were seriously injured across Warwickshire roads and collisions often see a spike on the warmer weekends and bank holidays.

“Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You!” is a phrase commonly heard by motorcyclists who have experienced a vehicle pulling out in front of them and this type of incident is one of the leading causes of motorcycle collisions.

The new national campaign will help riders identify a SMIDSY situation and protect themselves, as well as sharing other riding techniques provided by some of the nation’s best riders. A new Ride Craft Hub website provides tips and explainers from pro riders all aimed at helping motorcyclists be better on their bike, and to reduce harm to riders on the road.

Warwickshire Police OPU motorbike and traffic officers will be out and about speaking with riders and sharing advice over the coming weeks, supporting everyone in enjoying the road networks safely.   It’s not just the bikers who need advice however and police will also be speaking to drivers if they observe unsafe or illegal behaviours, particularly around motorcyclists.

The most recent combined data from the DFT and National Road Traffic Census from 2021 reveals that 310 motorcyclists lost their lives and 5264 were seriously injured on Britain’s roads. Five-year data from 2016 to 2021 on reported road casualties cites failing to look properly on the part of a rider or driver as the most common contributing factor in fatal or serious collisions. The data also reveals that T, Y or staggered junctions are the most common locations of motorcyclist casualties, representing 34.7% of combined fatalities and injuries.

OPU Traffic Inspector Simon Paull said “As well as speaking to motorcyclists to encourage them to upskill, we are also asking drivers to look twice for motorcyclists.  They are not as visible as four wheels and need drivers to take more care and consideration around them to help keep them safe.   As a motorcyclist myself I understand the thrill and enjoyment that can be had on your motorbike.  Warwickshire has some fantastic routes and some of them are good because they test your skills.  That’s why we use some of these routes during our BikeSafe courses to help riders get the most enjoyment out of their ride whilst staying safe and legal. 

“It really doesn’t matter how experienced you are on your bike, we all need to refresh and improve our road skills and it’s important to keep on learning. The Ride Craft Hub website is a great resource to learn tips from the nation’s best riders to help you not only ride safer, but also ride better.”

Chief Superintendent Marc Clothier is National Police Chiefs’ Council Operational Lead for Project Apex, he said:

“Approximately 20 per cent of all killed and seriously injured road users each year are motorcyclists, despite them only representing 1 per cent of road miles travelled. This new campaign and related activity is designed to change that.

“We tested the tip cards and Ride Craft Hub resources over the Easter weekend in a number of police forces and it was really well received by riders so we’re pleased to see it rolled out nationally.

“The campaign has been informed by extensive research to ensure it is effective in reaching our motorcyclist communities and as a keen rider myself, I know that no matter how good someone is on their motorbike – we’re always keen to be better.”

The Ride Craft Hub – www.ridecrafthub.org – will become a home for sharing pro rider tips from the best riders in the country. A guide to spotting a SMIDSY has been provided by charity DocBike, who work to eradicate motorcycle deaths. Better cornering advice has come from Bikertek in collaboration with Motorcycle News and a masterclass on reading the road comes from PC Roger Peskett, a blue light rider from Thames Valley Police.