Accident warning to drivers and bikers

Drivers are being urged to take a second look after new figures show half of all motorcycle casualties in the North East either died or were seriously injured.

Last year, there were 329 biker collisions on the region’s roads – down from 337 the year before but 53% resulted in riders either being killed or seriously injured.

While overall biker casualty figures have fallen during recent years, the percentages of those killed or seriously injured rises year on year.

Campaign group Road Safety GB North East (RSGB NE) is also reminding bikers to ride according to the conditions and within the speed limit.

Drivers are being urged to take a second look for bikes before pulling out or overtaking – checking their blind spot every time.

Paul Watson, chairman of RSGB NE, said there had been a fall in the total number of motorcyclist casualties across the region during the five-years between 2015 and 2019.

In that time 1,936 motorcyclists were injured or killed on the region’s roads, with 819 seriously injured and 48 killed.

He said: “We’re very pleased that the number of overall biker casualties has fallen.

“But we continue to be concerned that more than half of all bike collisions result in a rider either losing their life or being seriously injured.

“Less than 1% of vehicle miles travelled on the region’s roads are by bikers, but they account for 18% of those that are killed or seriously injured.”

He added: “We are urging bikers to ride sensibly and drivers to take a second look for bikes at junctions and before overtaking.”