Week of action supports national two wheels campaign

Reducing collisions involving some of our most vulnerable road users was the focus of a recent national campaign supported by Northamptonshire Police.

Officers from the Force’s Roads Policing and Safer Roads Teams joined colleagues from across the UK to take part in proactive patrols on our county’s roads in the annual 2-Wheel campaign week of action.

Led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and coordinated by National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence, and Investigations (NRPOII), the campaign aims to reduce collisions involving cyclists, motorcyclists and those who ride e-scooters.

Throughout the month of June, officers carried out proactive patrols using the Force’s motorcycle fleet as well as stopping and engaging with two-wheeled road users to offer advice on safe riding and protective gear.

Officers engaged with a total of 73 two-wheeled users. Of those, 20 were riding motorcycles, mopeds, or scooters under 125cc while 30 people were travelling on machines over 125cc. A further 13 were cyclists and 10 were on e-scooters.

While most of the motorcyclists were observed abiding riding responsibly and within the law, 19 riders were issued with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for excessive speed while another rider received words of advice.

A further 11 riders received TORs and 39 riders were issued with words of advice for various other offences including careless and inconsiderate riding and not being in proper control of a vehicle, as well as minor defects.

In addition to this, one rider was given a Section 59 warning for riding an off-road motorbike in Kettering, while 14 cyclists were also issued with words of advice in relation to the manner of their riding.

Roads Policing Inspector Ian Wills, who coordinated the Force’s activity, said: “Our priority is to reduce casualties on our roads, and cyclists and motorcyclists feature disproportionately in road collisions in the UK, including in Northamptonshire.

“Motorcyclists, cyclists, and more recently e-scooter riders, are some of the most vulnerable road users, and this campaign provided the opportunity to shine the spotlight and promote safety for riders of two-wheeled machines, whether through education or enforcement, and encourage all road users to be observant and courteous when sharing our road space.

“Although this campaign has finished, in partnership with our Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance partners, we continue to proactively raise awareness of the issues which two-wheel riders can face and reduce the risk to them and other road users.”

Motorcyclists represent almost a quarter of fatal or serious injury collisions in the UK, despite making up three per cent of vehicles on the roads, showing just how risky motorcycling can be.

In Northamptonshire, seven deaths involving motorcyclists and pedal cyclists were recorded in 2023 and a further 73 casualties sustained serious or life-changing injuries. In 2022 there were eight fatalities and 79 people serious injured.

Riders can join one of the Force’s BikeSafe workshops, which aim to improve rider skills and safety. As part of the session, each participant will have their riding ability observed by a trained police motorcyclist. For more information click here.

For more information about joining one of the county’s Biker Down workshops, which are delivered by Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service and provide lifesaving training to members of the biker community click here.

For more information about road safety and crime prevention tips to keep your two-wheeled vehicles safe, visit Road safety | Northamptonshire Police (northants.police.uk).