Concerns over North east ‘mature bikers’ accidents

POLICE Scotland today voiced their concerns about the “disproportionately high” number of mature bike riders becoming involved in serious and fatal motorcycle accidents on the roads of the North east of Scotland.

Police are concerned about mature bikers involved in accidents. Picture (posed by models): TSPL

Their warning came after two motorcyclists in their 40s were airlifted to hospital following a crash on Royal Deeside in Aberdeenshire at the weekend.

A spokeswoman for the Grampian Division of Police Scotland said today that the number of collisions involving motorcycles in Grampian so far this year was down on the same period in 2012.

But she continued: “While the figures are encouraging, they indicate a worrying trend towards mature riders being more likely to be involved in motorcycle collisions.From 1 March this year, Police Scotland have recorded 11 motorcycle collisions leading to serious injury, and no fatal collisions across Grampian. This is an improvement on the same period in 2012 which had seen two fatal and 14 serious collisions involving bikers.

“At the same time, nearly a third of all 24 serious road traffic collisions in May involved a motorcycle. All riders involved were male and the majority can be described as mature riders, in their 40s and 50s, with the oldest aged 64.”

Sergeant Rob Warnock, of the force’s Divisional Road Policing Unit, said: “Aberdeenshire and Moray has a problem profile of mature riders on powerful bikes being involved in a disproportionately high number of serious and fatal collisions and I urge this particular group to listen to this message and ride defensively and sensibly at all times.

“If they have any doubts about their riding standard I would like them to seek out local training providers as the information they will provide will prevent them being seriously injured or killed on our roads.”

Councillor Peter Argyle, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, backed the safety call. He said: “Aberdeenshire’s roads are some of the best in the country and as the weather improves we are seeing more and more bikers out on our roads.

“We encourage bikers to enjoy the fantastic roads, but I would urge them to take care, ride responsibly and within your limits.”