ROAD SAFETY

The government is to crack down on middle-aged men who have taken to riding powerful bikes that they are unable to control. These men are likely to have given up smaller machines in their youth for a family car. Ministers believe the bikers are undermining road safety policies and, under new plans, riders returning to biking after a long absence could be forced to take training and a test on smaller machines.

At the moment there is nothing to stop an individual who passed a motorcycle test many years ago returning to biking on a powerful machine. The new legislation, however, will force all motorcyclists to show they are capable of riding a smaller bike before they can progress to one above 400cc. Under-21s are already restricted to medium-powered bikes for two years after passing their test.

Most accidents and injuries do not involve excessive speed. Fact. But this won't deflect the revenue guns from pointing your way. Casualty reduction involves a whole range of issues such as:

* Stopping pedestrians from causing conflict with vehicles on highways. Jay Walking offences.

* Preventing children playing ball games, roller-blading, skateboarding etc on the highway (no insurance, no control, and the motorist foots the bill).

* Ensuring highways departments fill all the potholes in and remove gravel after roadworks.

* Reporting owners of dogs not on a lead.

* Catching and removing all stray animals from the highways.

* Dealing with farmers who allow stray sheep and cattle on our roads.

* Dealing with LGV's that deposit diesel fuel on roundabouts and exits from filling stations. Lane discipline on motorways and dual carriageways.

* Regular and prompt gritting and salting.

* Distractions in vehicles used by parents on the largely unnecessary school run.

* Effects of drink and drugs on drivers. Especially the national health junkies who drive to the school and work each day, blissfully unaware they are influenced by prescription medications.

* Education campaigns at places where drivers and riders congregate.

Not much mention of speed but all of these contribute in a far greater way to casualties. However, none of these can be detected with a laser-gun, so there you have it. None of the above make popular headlines and none can ratchet up the revenue, so speeders get it. Nobody wants casualties on our roads. But it is not going to stop, and certainly not by the injudicious use of cameras to clobber motorists. You can put this one in the bank, if police forces were allowed to keep the money from recovery of stolen cars and motorcycles there would be a revolution overnight and detection rates would go through the roof. That takes up too much money and time.

A key part of the government's crackdown on crime by teenage tearaways was quietly ditched. Home Secretary David Blunkett had planned to set fixed time limits for such cases to reach court and be dealt with. And in pilot projects throughout the country, the scheme HAD been successful in dealing with young thugs. But ministers thought it put too much pressure on the police and the prosecution service and was too costly. Motorists continue to be the easiest option.

This article is taken from a letter written by serving police officers who are against the present vendetta towards motorists. It reveals the truth that speed cameras are nothing to do with road safety and purely a revenue earner, and is well worth a read. It's a large file (93Kb) so you may want to save it to read off-line. Click here

'Think Bike’ posters will be in place at motorbike accident black spots in the city. The campaign is part of the work of the East Midlands motorcycle safety Shiny Side Up Partnership and the poster sites were suggested by Derby and Derbyshire Motorcycle Forum. In addition, bikers will be asked to suggest other sites they feel vulnerable at for a second phase of the poster campaign later in the year. The Shiny Side Up Partnership includes Derby City Council and other East Midlands councils. Derby and Derbyshire Motorcycle Forum includes Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils and motorcycling representatives.

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