Motorcycle safety in Wales reaches 'sticking point'

Motorcyclists were 77 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers of other vehicles on Welsh roads in 2014.

The deaths of three riders within four hours on Sunday came two weeks after official figures revealed motorcycling deaths in Wales had hit a seven-year high.

Welsh riders account for 37% of deaths and injuries on the roads - despite them making up just 1% of traffic.

But what is behind the latest increase?

Chris Hume, of Welsh road casualty reduction partnership GoSafe, said the number of motorbike-related injuries in Wales, in line with that for the UK, had fallen since the early 1980s.

However, he added: "We have reached a sticking point in the last eight years."

Concerned

Analysis by GoSafe showed those riders injured or killed in accidents were predominantly "men, aged 30-plus, riding big machines".

Mr Hume said the abundance of rural roads in Wales - a big draw for weekend riders - played a part.

"We have some lovely roads in Wales that attract motorcyclists in terms of their nature. Who wouldn't want to come to Wales to ride in the summer?" he said.

"We are not trying to stop people from coming to Wales, we just want people to ride sensibly and for other road users to be aware."

Some campaigners have called for speed limits on some country roads to be lowered from 60 mph to 50.

But Mr Hume said it would "not necessarily solve the problem for that minority who think the limits are for someone else".

Since 2004, about 90% of the casualties have been men

He said there was also "a problem" with some riders taking to the road with little experience and insisted there was "some work to do" to reach reckless riders.

"The sad part is that, in a way, the hardest group to engage with are the those groups most likely to drive in an irresponsible way," he added.

In a bid to tackle the problem, the Welsh government has awarded nearly £4m to 30 road safety improvement schemes in 14 local authority areas.

It has also given £180,000 to help motorcyclists improve their skills.

Heartbreaking

Graeme Hay, of the British Motorcyclists' Federation (BMF), said the latest figures were "heartbreaking" but insisted "we don't yet know" what had caused the rise.

He said, of all motorists, riders spend the most money on safety equipment and training, with thousands enjoying Welsh roads safely and bolstering the Welsh economy.

"We would hate for motorcycling to get a totally black reputation in Wales. It's hard to stand in front of these figures and say everything is alright, because evidently, it's not," he said.

"But at the same time, we would hate for motorcycling to be associated with all bad news," he added, hailing events such as last weekend's Llan Bike Fest in Denbighshire.

Dyfed-Powys Police has launched Operation Darwen in an attempt to reduce the number of casualties in its force area.

A police spokesman said: "There is no excuse for any motorists or motorcyclists taking risks on the roads that could lead to serious injury or death to themselves or others on our roads - and they will not be tolerated."

Ed Morrow, of road safety charity Brake, said there was a combination of factors which make riders the "most high-risk road user group".

He said: "The injury rate is similar to that of pedal cyclists as, like cyclists, they are often not seen or looked out for by vehicle drivers.

"However, the fatality rate among motorcyclists is much higher, due to the high speeds involved."

The number of motorcycle deaths and injuries have hit a seven-year high in Wales