A NEW motorbike safety campaign is to highlight the dangers of overtaking, amid a rise in fatal crashes.
Almost one in three lives lost on a motorbike are linked to overtaking, according to Police Scotland data, with "failing to look properly" and "loss of control" the two most common factors.
It comes after an increase in motorcyclist road deaths in 2014, with 30 riders losing their lives in Scotland. The upturn comes after fatalities dipped to 21 and 23 respectively in 2012 and 2013, although it remains below the five-year average for 2009-2013, which stands at 31.
The renewed focus on motorbike safety comes ahead of the Easter weekend and the beginning of British summertime, which signals the start of the traditional biking season when motorcyclists will head out on ride-outs and tours throughout the country.
For a second year, the official road safety campaign will be aimed primarily at 40 to 49 year-old male riders, the group statistically most likely to be of killed or seriously injured.
Motorcyclists make up one per cent of Scotland’s road traffic, but account for 15 per cent of fatalities, and throughout the biking season it is not unusual to see someone die every weekend.
The 'Live Fast, Die Old' campaign has been devised by Road Safety Scotland and the Scottish Government, in collaboration with Police Scotland.
Chief Superintendent Andy Edmonston, Head of Road Policing, Police Scotland said: “Many bikers will be preparing to get back out on the road this Easter weekend to enjoy the wide range of rides and scenery Scotland has to offer.
“We understand the thrill of motorcycling and why people want to do it, but we also want them to keep themselves safe, especially when overtaking and negotiating left hand bends.
“The Live Fast, Die Old campaign allows us to talk directly to bikers, encouraging them to enjoy the biking season while thinking about the safety aspects of their ride.”
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