July 21 2014.


A new THINK! radio campaign has been launched to encourage drivers to take longer to look for motorcyclists, on the back of figures which show that 30 bikers are killed or injured every day at junctions.

Launching today, the ‘Didn’t See’ campaign will run for four weeks on national radio with the aim of reducing the number of motorcyclist and driver collisions on our roads.

THINK! research shows that drivers believe the majority of motorcycle crashes happen because of bikers breaking the speed limit. However, the statistics show that around half of motorcyclist collisions in which a rider is killed or seriously hurt occur at junctions, with drivers failing to look properly being the most common cause.

Robert Goodwill, road safety minister, said: “Every day more than 30 motorcycle riders die or are injured in accidents at road junctions. Often, though not always, this is because a driver has pulled out in front of a rider.

“More than two people lose their lives every week in this way and this is something we are determined to change. If all drivers and riders took a bit more care at junctions we could bring this figure down significantly.”

Motorcyclist Priscila Currie is supporting the campaign after a collision in central London changed her life.

Ms Currie said: “My accident happened because a car pulled out in front of me. I wasn’t riding fast, only at 30 mph, but the accident had a profound impact on my life – physically and mentally.

“I was hospitalised for 12 days with severe fractures and underwent 18 months of physiotherapy. It took more than three years for me to find the confidence to get back on a bike and I now live with pain every day, which has affected my mobility.

“People make mistakes but drivers should remember that mistakes can cost lives. Behind the motorcycle helmet is a person. We have families, friends, careers and a life, just like other road users, so I would urge drivers to please take longer, especially at junctions, to look out for motorcyclists.”

THINK! will also be launching a new campaign this summer to encourage motorcyclists to undertake further training and to ride defensively to help improve their safety on the roads.