Police in Hampshire are coordinating a campaign to promote safety issues to motorbike users.

Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership's 'Think Bike' campaign is aimed at making people more aware of their own safety on the road – and will also encourage individuals to be more aware of the safety of other road users. The message is aimed at cyclists, scooter-riders and motorcyclists, especially those who travel at times when there are poor lighting conditions.

BBC News reports that police are targeting particular roads – such as Northam Bridge in Southampton – by promoting safety messages on routes used regularly by cyclists and motorcyclists and pulling over cyclists and motorcyclists not wearing high-visibility vests.

Figures from Hampshire Constabulary show that in 2008, a total of 24 motorcyclists and one pillion passenger were killed on roads in Hampshire and the Isle of White. There have been nine fatalities to date this year. Police say that most accidents occur at road junctions –officers are hoping that younger cyclists will be persuaded to take more care on busy roads.

Motorcyclist Karen Holloway lost her husband Peter in a biking accident in 2002 and said that the accident had not only turned her world ‘upside down’ – but had deprived their two children of a father. Mr Holloway was involved in a crash A272 while heading to East Meon, when he came off his bike.

Describing her loss on the Bikesafe website, Mrs Holloway said:

‘The biggest lesson to learn is the hurt never goes away, but you learn to live with it being a part of your life’.

At the time of her husband’s accident, she had recently taken up biking herself and had to decide whether to continue.

Mrs Holloway writes that a Bikesafe assessment helped improve her own safety knowledge – and also boosted her confidence as a motorcyclist. She is now an adviser on road safety and advocate of the ‘Think Bike’ safety campaign.

Hampshire’s ‘Bike Safety Week’ was launched on Monday (19/10/09) and advice and personal stories will be featured on BBC Radio Solent.

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