Hampshire scheme launched to reduce motorcycle accidents

Date: 15/12/2010

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched a new initiative that aims to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed on the roads.

RideSMART is set to improve bike safety by covering the key areas of skills, maintenance, awareness, respect and tailoring.

Clyde Evans, Station Manager for Road Safety at Eastleigh, explained a RideSMART bike will be travelling around the region in order to promote the scheme.

The vehicle will be seen out and about raising awareness of the project at locations "such as schools, colleges, public events and popular motor biking haunts," he added.

Fire fighters will be urging riders to wear the correct protective clothing, increase their skill levels and keep an information card inside their helmets.

The scheme follows the results of a study carried out by the University of Nottingham's Centre for Motorcycle Ergonomics and Rider Human Factors that found bikers who have completed advanced training have safer riding habits than those with a high level of experience.

Posted by Sarah Bailey