Safety maps for motorcyclists to cut road deaths
Plan to highlight accident blackspots, hidden access points and areas where riders can expect problems
By Alison Middleton
Published: 05/08/2009
Emergency services in Perth and Kinross yesterday unveiled plans to reduce the number of bikers killed on roads across the county.
Special maps have been produced for motorcyclists.
The Around the Corner safety maps offer two routes while promoting safer riding in Perth and Kinross.
Tayside Police, the Tayside Safety Camera Partnership, Perth and Kinross Council and Tayside Fire and Rescue developed the maps, which were launched at Perth Fire Station yesterday.
Accident blackspots, bad bends, hidden access roads and areas where bikers can expect wildlife and mud on the roads are all included.
Information and advice on sections of road, fuel and biker-friendly rest stops, as well as safety camera sites, also feature on the maps.
The aim is to reduce the number of biker casualties in a county popular with riders from across the UK.
In 2008, six motorcyclists were killed in Tayside, and 46 were seriously injured.
Inspector Grant Edward, head of the roads policing unit based in Perth, said: “These figures illustrate the need for our ongoing active engagement with the motorcycling community.
“The majority of these collisions could have been avoided with just a bit more care or a little less speed.
“The maps provide an opportunity for us to offer advice and ask motorcyclists to play their part in making our roads safer by riding with due consideration for other road users, being prepared for the unexpected and taking heed of informed advice given.”
Tayside Fire and Rescue community safety officer for Perth and Kinross Dave Black welcomed the launch of the maps.
He said: “Riding through the beautiful countryside in nice weather must be one of the best ways to travel. Having the knowledge from maps to enhance the safety of this experience can only be a good thing, and hopefully it will help to bring down the number of motorcyclists who are killed or injured on roads.”
For information and to obtain a copy of the map, phone 01382 596363.
Will be picking mine up on Saturday!
But reading a map in a map pocket on you tank bag is a bit worse than having you eyes on the road ahead TC lmao
But at least this is a very positive move on their part
I hope that people read them BEFORE they set off, HR!
Then again....
They could just post them on the back of caravans... plenty of time to read them then!
Ah, but Ian you are missing the point.
This is a council making an effort to welcome motorcyclists and helping them by showing where bad corners, hidden access roads and mud and wildlife could be on the road. Even pointing out 'Safety Camera' locations!
Pretty refreshing attitude, don't you think?
its a really good idea, how would they know where mud is ?? if its just been dropped, typical councils....but its a refreshing change they are actually giving us some consideration for a change...i suppose they know where mud may be on the roads...farms access etc
Yep, there are a few roads well known for it by the locals but there are a LOT of tourers visiting the area so a little local knowledge could be real helpful for them. All the local bike shops will be carrying the maps but am going to find out tomorrow if they are putting them in the (few) local petrol stations as this is where I think they would be most useful.
I thought you just got arrested if you took a bike to north Wales Wills.
Top find TC refreshing change to be encouraged to go but suppose we will all spend money when there so good for region
Ok.... Just had a long chat with Duncan from the Tayside Safety Camera Partnership and feel very encouraged by what he is saying.
Basically the map is highlighting where the accident blackspots are based on their statistics over the last few years, e.g. we have had 40 accidents here travelling in this direction at a certain time (because of a hidden access road, Sun or mud on the road etc). They are solely interested in reducing the number of accidents and want to do this by working WITH bikers, not against them.
My suggestion of putting them in the local BP garages (that is all we have here) went down well and he also said that they have printed the map on both sides of a visor wipe cloth which I thought was an excellent idea.
He was outlining what other districts are doing too. Some of you may already know of these but I will put them here so others can discover them:
aroundthecorner.org.uk - promoting safe biking around the Scottish Borders. They have a few suggested routes on there and will soon have videos too.
Bike Plus - a scheme that aims to help newly qualified, and inexperienced bikers stay safer when they take to the road. Offers post-test guidance to people who have passed their bike test, or those who are returning to riding after an absence. At present the current cost of ‘Bike Plus’ is £180, however if you live and ride in Derbyshire the course will be subsidised by over 70 per cent meaning you pay £50. If you live outside the county and ride on Derbyshire’s roads you will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount meaning you only pay £90 (subject to approval).
BikeSafe - BikeSafe is an initiative run by Police Forces around the United Kingdom who work with the whole of the biking world to help to lower the number of motorcycle rider casualties.
He will be sending me some more stuff and keeping me up to date with what they are doing, so I will pass on any thing that will be of interest to others.
Nice one TC.
As you say we are all aware of blackspots in our local area, 'Cowsh*t corner' is well known by bikers in this area, as are roads that regularly have debris wash onto them after rain, farm crossings etc. So for visitors, highlighting the worst of these dangers can only be a good thing.
After cutting my biking teeth in perthshire and tayside i can totally understand the need for a map like this.Warning signs are a bit hit and miss to say the least!
Whats nicer than parking off somewhere , stretching the legs having a coffee or tea maybe even a beer pulling out the map and planning the next stage of the ride ? smoke break for some of us addicts ...relaxed and then riding on . Good stuff TC
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