Biker gang caught at speeds of 144mph
ABIKER gang was stopped travelling at speeds as high as 144mph. Dyfed-Powys Police halted riders travelling at 109mph, 126mph, 127mph and 144mph, after a complaint about 13 motorcyclists between Crickhowell and Bwlch.
Officers said the biker travelling at 144mph was reported for dangerous driving. One rider had his bike seized when it emerged he had no driving licence. Another motorcycle and a car were confiscated because they were uninsured.
The bikers were stopped during a “day of action” on April 2.
Sgt Owen Dillon, of Brecon traffic police, said: “This was the first busy day for motorcycles on our roads and roads policing officers provided a highly visible presence, engaging, educating and enforcing, with the aim of reducing casualties and preventing anti-social riding.”
Reducing road casualties was “a priority” for Dyfed-Powys Police. April 2 was part of road safety campaign Operation Darwen.
Sgt Dillon said: “The campaign will continue until October with officers focusing on the Fatal Five: mobile phones, speeding, dangerous riding/ driving, seatbelts and drink/drug driving to reduce road casualties.”
More than two dozen motorcyclists died on Welsh roads in 2015.
According to the latest government figures, 25 bikers were killed in accidents that year – including a teenager. Hundreds more were seriously injured, including a child under 15.
Most accidents happened during the day on a weekend. T-junctions and roundabouts proved perilous.
AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said there were spikes in accidents on weekends and when the weather improved – and that rider numbers went up when fuel prices increased.
“The number of bikes on British roads consistently increases as you move into summer, with weekend riders being most likely to be involved in accidents,” he said.
“That is slightly unexpected because you are going to get less traffic on the roads.
“It’s because a large number won’t be riding their bikes daily on the roads. They are probably not as switched on as those who do and are out facing everything the road can throw at them on a daily basis.”
He called for a government ad campaign to teach people about riding safely.
“Like a lot of road use it’s about training,” he said.
Bikers are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured in an accident than drivers. They made up 0.2% of all motorised traffic on Welsh roads in 2015. But 41% of those killed or seriously injured were bikers.
A South Wales Police spokesman said the force “operates regular road safety initiatives aimed at all road users including motorcyclists”. He added: “We encourage safe and responsible use of the roads.”