Bike Deaths Spark New Safety Drive

With another death reported this week to a Welshpool-bound motorcyclist at Mile End, Oswestry, the local Fire Service is taking to two wheels in a bid to get their safety message across.

The latest death comes just three weeks after a motorcyclist was left fighting for his life following a smash on a Trewern blackspot, highlighting the risks that motorcyclists consistently appear to take on our roads.

But the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has decided to try to beat them at their own game by using motorbikes to reach out to motorcyclists across the county.

Built to police specification, the two motor bikes are the latest additions to the Blue Light fleet and will be ridden by eight volunteers from within the Service - all trained to Police standard rider level. The fire bike team will deliver road safety awareness training and best practice safety techniques to all levels of bike riders.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Paul Bates, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

“These fire bikes are an innovative and highly visible way for us as to engage with riders in rural parts of mid Wales and promote safer riding”

Last year, Wales suffered 125 road deaths - 28 of which were motorcyclists who only make up approximately 1% of licences but over 22% of road deaths. The Welshpool area is a magnet for motor bikes, particularly in the summer, and despite a road safety campaign with yellow boards splashed across the hot spots, the latest incidents underlines that more needs to be done.