NCJ Number
52032
Journal
Police Review Volume: 85 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 1514-1520
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAMS OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE AND THE CHESHIRE, ENGLAND, POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DESCRIBED AND BRITISH TRAFFIC STATISTICS ON MOTORCYCLE DEATHS ARE GIVEN. BOTH PROGRAMS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
Abstract
THE LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE STARTED A COMPREHENSIVE BIKE SAFETY PROGRAM BECAUSE BETWEEN 1974 AND 1977 THE NUMBER OF TWO WHEEL RIDER AND PILLION PASSENGER INJURIES IN LINCOLNSHIRE JUMPED FROM 599 TO 928 A YEAR WHILE FATALITIES INCREASED FROM 16 TO 22. PRELIMINARY FIGURES FOR 1978, COLLECTED AFTER THE START OF THE PROGRAM, RESEMBLE 1974 LEVELS. THE PROGRAM COMBINES SAFETY CHECKS, TRAFFIC SAFTEY AND MOTOR BIKE RIDING COURSE TAUGHT BY POLICE OFFICERS, PUBLICITY, AND STRICT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE PROGRAM HAD ITS 'KICK-OFF' AT THE MOTOR CYCLES NATIONAL 'SUPERBIKE' COMPETITION AND A NUMBER OF CHAMPIONS LENT SUPPORT TO THE CAUSE. THE CHESHIRE PROGRAM RECRUITED YOUNG CYCLISTS AND TRAINED THEM TO TEACH OTHER YOUNG RIDERS HOW TO HANDLE THEIR MOTOR BIKES. THE PEER GROUP APPROACH IS USED BECAUSE IT IS FELT THAT YOUNG PERSONS WHO 'LIVE AND BREATH OIL FUMES' CARRY MORE CREDIBILITY WITH OTHER ADOLESCENTS THAN POLICE OFFICERS. THE DEPARTMENT HANDLES RECORDKEEPING FOR THE COURSE AND POLICE ARE IN THE BACKGROUND. A LINCOLSHIRE SURVEY FOUND THAT 47 PERCENT OF CYCLISTS IN ACCIDENTS ARE UNDER 20 YEARS OF AGE AND 57 PERCENT HAVE BEEN RIDING LESS THAN 1 YEAR. BRITISH TRAFFIC DATA SHOW THAT FOR EVERY 10,000 CARS ON THE ROAD, 35 DRIVERS DIE, BUT FOR EVERY 10,000 MOTORCYCLES, 160 RIDERS DIE. THE FIGURES FOR MOPEDS AND SCOOTERS ARE 140 AND 74 RIDERS, RESPECTIVELY. (GLR)