Police Scotland caught five bikers doing 100mph in Highlands

Police Scotland has warned bikers it has stepped up patrols in the Highlands after five people were reported for travelling at speeds of more than 100mph.

The bikers were all reported by road policing officers for speeding on the A890. Picture: Malcolm McCurrach

The force said the bikers were all reported by road policing officers for speeding on the A890 road between Lochcarron and Achnasheen over the last week.

It comes as officers continue to enforce Operation Zenith, a motorcycle safety campaign designed to prevent bikers from breaking the speed limit and raise awareness about the issue.

The force warned that it continually operates a “robust policy” in respect of speeding and appealed to bikers to recognise they are vulnerable when travelling at high speeds.

Inspector Gus Stewart from Police Scotland’s divisional road policing unit said that while the Highlands proved an attractive destination for bikers, they should ride safely.

He said: “The areas where our checks are focused have been highlighted to us by our communities as being problematic and it is disappointing to find riders travelling at such dangerously high speeds on these roads.

“Our checks will continue and we would encourage the public to inform us of any problem areas which will allow us to focus our patrols.”

He added: “Motorcycling is an excellent way to explore the Highlands and Islands and we want riders to enjoy their time in the area, but more importantly we want them to get home safely.

“I would urge riders to be aware of their own vulnerability and ride according to the prevailing road, weather and traffic conditions. Our main aim is to reduce the number of road deaths and make Scotland’s roads safer. So don’t risk it, reduce your speed and obey the rules of the road.”

Last month, a 24-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision with a car in Perthshire. Shona Mitchell, from Crieff, died at the scene of the accident on the A85 at St Fillans.

The latest Scottish Government figures showed that 31 motorcyclists died on the country’s roads in 2014, an increase of eight on the previous 12 months and a rise of 10 on the 2012 figure, which stood at 21. While motorcyclists make up one per cent of road traffic, they account for 15 per cent of fatalities,