Bike Insurance

At the Isle of Man TT Festival gets nearer, Motorcyclists are increasingly being encouraged to consider their safety on the roads.

The TT 2009 road safety campaign has just been launched by the Department of Transport and Isle of Man Constabulary to raise awareness how dangerous riding can put more than bike insurance premiums at risk.

It follows last year's event, in which four people died and 38 were injured, potentially making bikers think twice about protecting themselves and others.

This year's campaign features hard-hitting images of real crash scenes generated by going through police archives.

Chief constable Mike Langdon, speaking at the launch of the campaign at the House of Manannan in Peel, said: "The emotive style of this year's road safety campaign is necessary if the message about road safety is to get through to the hardcore of visiting motorcyclists who seem oblivious to the dangers that their style of riding brings."

According to a report by the Department for Transport, motorcyclists make up less than one per cent of vehicle traffic but suffer 14 per cent of total deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads.

Per million vehicle kilometres, the number of bikers fatally injured or wounded is more than 16 times that of car drivers and passengers.

Also speaking at the launch of the Stay Alive, Stay Alert initiative, minister for transport David Anderson said that while difficult to look at, the images highlight the devastation that an be caused in the aftermath of a crash.

"This year, we want to emphasise the catastrophic impact an accident can have on the rider or driver involved," he commented.

"Whilst it is very saddening to note that some lives were lost as a result of these accidents, we hope that these hard-hitting images will make people stop and think about how they ride or drive."

Chief Constable Langdon went on to say that during the TT fortnight, officers would be rigorously on the lookout for potential offenders who put themselves and others at risk through dangerous riding.

Vulnerable road users will also be made aware of the increased risk levels during the two weeks.

The Isle of Man TT Festival begins on May 30th and will be attended by MotoGP racer Bradley Smith and Formula One commentator Murray Walker, whose father Graham was a TT regular and won the 1931 Lightweight event.

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