ACC David Collins - warning to
dangerous riders

NORTH YORKSHIRE is on course for its lowest number of motorcycle fatalities for several years according to the county's police - but a senior officer warned that riders still need to work with them to stop the year ending in tragedy.

The Yorkshire Dales area of the county is a particular honeypot for riders due the challenging network of country roads. Sadly, year after year, those challenging roads claim too high a toll in lives and throughout 2006 North Yorkshire Police have continued their 'get tough' policy with dangerous riders. It appears to be paying dividends; 11 riders have died on the county's road this year compared to 20 by the same time in 2005.

Assistant Chief Constable David Collins said: "Riders across the region have taken on our message that enjoyable riding need not be dangerous riding, and have responded responsibly in their thousands.

"That's great, and needs to continue right through to the end of the unusually extended leisure riding season.

"My fear is that the late start to Autumn is resulting in massive numbers of riders coming to enjoy North Yorkshire's roads long after the traditional leisure riding season is over - and they are not aware of the dangers that can lie on the county's thousands of miles of rural roads."

Riders are being urged to look for unseasonal hazards that may catch them out:

• Blind corners coated in wet, slippery leaves
• Ice patches lurking in shadows, even on sunny days
• Standing water lying in the dips of swooping roads
• Almost invisible black ice
• Road users unaware that there are still many motorcyclists out enjoying the country roads - some of them travelling fast

11 families, 11 groups of friends, 11 groups of colleagues, and many more acquaintances and fellow motorcyclists are bereaved

ACC David Collins - NYP

Sales of powerful sports bikes have continued to boom throughout 2006, and more riders than ever before have visited the county to enjoy its scenery and fine riding areas; and despite the success of the get-tough policy Mr Collins added a cautionary note: "there is still no cause for celebration. 11 families, 11 groups of friends, 11 groups of colleagues, and many more acquaintances and fellow motorcyclists are bereaved. Their lives have changed irreversibly because of those 11 dreadful accidents."

And he reminded riders and drivers that North Yorkshire Police operate a 24/7 hard-line policy with speeders and anti-social road-users. He said: "We want visitors to enjoy our county and its scenic roads, but we will not tolerate those who speed and ride or drive dangerously, or those who spoil other people's enjoyment and peace."

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