Ride safe initiative launched

Up to 120 ‘Ride Safely’ posters distributed across the county will for the first time have a grid reference sticker placed on the back, Powys County Council has announced.

 

The new addition to the posters, which is also the first of its kind in Wales, is part of the council’s Road Safety Unit 2011 motorcyclist campaign.

 

Produced in partnership with the Motorcycle Action Group it is hoped that if a motorcyclist is involved in a collision or breaks down, they can use the sticker to provide their exact location on unfamiliar roads.

 

The sticker comprises of a 12-figure grid reference which can be given to emergency services control rooms, together with the description of the road number/route.

 

A leaflet will also form part of the campaign, which will provide a map of Powys with the locations of all the fatal and serious collisions in 2010 together with causation factors. The leaflets will be placed in establishments which are frequented by motorcyclists.

 

The unit will also be providing Powys residents with the opportunity to attend a training scheme at a considerably reduced rate, thanks to funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.

 

Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Board Member for Road Safety, said: "In 2010, Powys had the lowest number of fatal collisions since records began but we cannot become complacent.

 

"Three motorcyclists were killed in 2010, compared to four in 2009 and again in 2008 and seven in 2007. We need to continue to decrease the number of people killed on our roads. We hope that our road safety education, training and publicity will encourage motorcyclists to continue using our roads but in a safe and informed manner."

 

Sarah Morris, the council’s Senior Road Safety Officer, said: "Even though the number of fatal collisions has decreased overall, motorcyclists remain one of the most vulnerable road users.

 

"We hope that the grid reference pilot scheme will be successful by assisting the emergency services to arrive at the exact location of the collision within the golden hour. This could make the difference between a serious and fatal collision."

 

For further information on the motorcyclist campaign then contact the Road Safety Unit on 0845 602 7035 or 01597 827 465 or email road.safety@powys.gov.uk