HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has launched a month- long education and enforcement campaign to tackle the growing number of motorcycle casualties. Since the beginning of the year, eight motorcyclists have died in collisions in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In the most recent fatal collision, on May 2, Peter Cope, 39, lost his life after a crash on the B3047 near to the junction of the A31 outside Alresford. Police will patrol motorcycle casualty routes for the next three weekends including the A339 (Alton to Basingstoke) A32 (Alton to Fareham) A272 (Winchester to Petersfield) and A3057 (Romsey to Andover). The force will continue to engage with motorcyclists over the next few weeks, with Roads Policing officers attending bike meetings to discuss the importance of safe riding and to promote BikeSafe. New look BikeSafe Rider workshops were launched by the constabulary in March. BikeSafe is a national police-led initiative aimed at increasing awareness of road safety and reducing motorbike casualties. Each workshop consists of a classroom-based theory session followed by an afternoon of 'on- road' observed riding with a police motorcyclist, covering 80 miles of urban and country roads. Last year 20 motorcyclists died in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – an increase of 29 per cent compared with 2006. There were a further 299 serious injury collisions across the two counties involving motorcyclists. Pc Mick Gear, Hampshire's BikeSafe co-ordinator said: "We don't want motorcyclists to stop enjoying their bikes, but with a worrying number of fatalities already this year, our campaign is all about reducing casualties and promoting safe riding. "Motorbikes are powerful and one dangerous manoeuvre or a split second lack of concentration can mean the difference between life and death. "Motorcyclists are vulnerable and it is important that other road users also play a part in their safety and take time to check for bikes, particularly when emerging from junctions."
