Wiltshire Police are urging road users to be mindful of motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders this summer following a surge in incidents where riders have been injured or killed.

The force supports BikeSafe – a national, police run motorcycle initiative aimed at working with motorcycle riders to raise awareness of the importance of post-test training.

BikeSafe workshops involve an observed ride with a police motorcyclist or approved BikeSafe observer and aim to cover rider attitude, systematic methods, collision causation, cornering, positioning, overtaking, observation, braking, and hazard perception.

Inspector John Hutchings, the force lead for BikeSafe, said: “Whilst BikeSafe isn’t a training programme for riders, it does help provide detailed sessions on hazard awareness, how to make your motorcycling safer and culminates in an on-road observed ride.

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“We’ve been offering the scheme for over 20 years for riders of all ages and experience and we continue to receive really positive feedback from attendees.

“Ultimately, as a police force, it is our aim to keep Wiltshire’s roads as safe as possible. Any fatality on our roads is one too many and as police officers we see the devastation a road death can leave behind for the rider or driver’s family and friends. We are committed to improving road safety for all.”

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service also run a free course called Biker Down, which is available to motorcyclists and motorcycle clubs in Wiltshire and Swindon. 

The course, which lasts about three hours, is in three parts and teaches riders how to manage the scene of a bike crash, the ways of taking care of a casualty and ways to make themselves more visible to other road users.

For further information about Biker Down Wiltshire, visit www.facebook.com/bikerdownwiltshire