Shropshire police target bikers in bid to cut death toll
Motorcyclists are being targeted as part of a campaign to try to cut the death and injury toll on Shropshire's roads.
Police will be visiting places where bikers commonly meet to encourage them to ride safely in the county.
Operation Triumph focuses mainly on the A41 from Whitchurch to Tong, and the A442 between Bridgnorth and Quatt, where motorcyclists meet in large numbers and there have been a number of serious collisions.
According to the figures the A41 to Tong has seen five serious accidents and one fatality in the past five years.
The campaign will run from April to September and involve officers visiting key sites and carrying out targeted enforcement.
PC Mick Sturland, of West Mercia Police's Market Drayton safer neighbourhood team, said: "This week sees the launch of Operation Triumph, a county-wide initiative around motorcycles and associated problems with speeding and dangerous riding. It will also address road safety involving a small but disproportionately high number of fatalities and seriously injured among bikers.
"The operation will see safer roads partnership out at key sites carrying out targeted enforcement alongside our colleagues from operational support unit in both marked and unmarked cars and bikes.
"In north Shropshire we will be helping our SNT colleagues in Whitchurch with overt reassurance on key roads leading into the area of Prees Heath where we have a very popular biker cafe and meeting point.
"I shall also be joining my colleagues from the Institute of Advanced Motorists to visit the Raven Cafe in Prees Heath, to enlighten bikers in the area of training and trying to encourage some to undertake some form of post-test rider training."
In Mid Wales a similar operation was launched by Dyfed-Powys Police in March.
Operation Darwen is an all-Wales campaign which runs from early spring through until the autumn and is aimed at motorcycle safety and reducing casualties on the roads.
Over the coming months, officers from the roads policing unit will engage with riders popular meeting spots for enthusiasts as well as certain routes as part of the operation. Go Safe vans will also be deployed as part of the operation.
Superintendent Huw Meredith, head of specialist operations for Dyfed Powys Police said: "
Everyone must take responsibility for their own and others' safety on our roads and be aware of their riding manner."
