Date: 31st March, 2023
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has joined forces with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to support its national Biker Down safety campaign, which runs between 3-9 April.
Biker Down is a free three-hour course that provides practical and potentially lifesaving advice. It gives riders an awareness of what to do if they are involved with or see an injured motorcyclist, and how to reduce their own risk of being in a collision. The sessions are suitable for riders of all experience levels, whether riding for work, pleasure, or both.
During the week-long national campaign, the importance of motorcycle maintenance and the wearing of legal and protective riding gear will also be highlighted.
Dan Quin, NFCC lead for road safety, said: “Motorcyclists are over-represented in collision and casualty statistics nationally. With an increase in the number of people using motorbikes for both commuting and enjoyment, our aim is to encourage riders to do all they can to ride safe and ensure they do all they can to be visible on the road. This campaign at the beginning of the motorcycling season is a great opportunity for all partners to deliver a range of safety messages across the UK.”
Other partner organisations supporting the campaign include The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), Road Safety GB, National Highways and TyreSafe.
Station Manager Dean Hoskins, Biker Down lead for DWFRS, said: “Our hope is that this week of action will contribute to reducing the number of riders injured and killed in motorcycle incidents on the roads. Despite motorcycles making up around 1% of vehicle traffic, in 2020-21 they accounted for 20% of road fatalities and 12% of road injuries in Great Britain. By delivering Biker Down in Wiltshire and Swindon, with financial support from AJN Steelstock, and supporting the programme’s provision by the Doc Bike charity in Dorset and BCP, we are doing all we can to keep bikers as safe as they can be on our roads.”
More information and advice can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/biker-down