Road safety focus for motorcyclists this Bank Holiday Weekend

North Yorkshire Police joins a national road safety operation over the Bank Holiday Weekend, with the help of a new superbike.

The operation will run across the August Bank Holiday weekend. Several other forces from the North of England will also take part in the operation including West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police, Durham Police and Humberside Police. The northern forces will work alongside forces in the south of the country as well as key partners which include BikeSafe and National Highways to promote the operation’s key message which is “Reducing the Risk - Improving the Ride”.

Motorcyclists represent almost a quarter of fatal or serious injury collisions in the UK, despite making up three percent of vehicles on the roads, showing just how risky motorcycling can be. Reducing the number of people who are killed or seriously injured on the roads continues to be the priority, however, police forces cannot achieve this solely through policing the roads. All road users have a responsibility to use the road network both legally and safely.

Engagement is key for the police to understand riders’ behaviour when it comes to riding on the road network. This bank holiday weekend officers will be out on the road network speaking to people of all ages and riding ability to further understand what needs to be achieved to improve road safety.

The operation’s priority is to reduce the number of casualties on the roads, and motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users featuring disproportionately in road collisions in the UK. This operation provides the police and partner agencies the opportunity to remind all road users on how to behave and act responsibly on the roads.

Across the weekend North Yorkshire Police will use its H2 Kawasaki unmarked motorbike for engagement and enforcement. This machine is equipped with blue lights, a siren and a 4K camera which will be used to secure evidence. The force will also deploy several police bikes and cars, some of which will be marked and some unmarked as well as its safety camera vans on key routes across the county.

ral police bikes and cars, some of which will be marked and some unmarked as well as its safety camera vans on key routes across the county.

Superintendent Alex Butterfield, commented: “We’re building on the success of the previous operation in May to make the roads safer for all users across the August bank holiday weekend.

“The partnership working is key to the success of this operation as we know that so many motorcyclists travel between different counties.

“Everyone has the right to travel on the road safely. We believe that no one should be killed or seriously injured as a consequence of using our road network and we will continue to work together to prevent harm and make our communities safer.”

You can watch the video here. In the video, Assistant Chief Constable, Elliot Foskett provides a look at our H2 Kawasaki and explains further details about the Police's commitment to keeping North Yorkshire's roads safe.