Ride Safe, Stay Safe message from Police Scotland to motorcyclists

With a major motorcycle event also scheduled for this weekend near Tyndrum, which attracts riders from across the country, Police Scotland’s Road Policing officers will be out on the roads, engaging with road users and encouraging motorcyclists to stay safe. Where offences are committed, they will enforce the law and will not hesitate to pull over anyone who is driving in an irresponsible, anti-social, erratic or illegal manner to keep road users as safe as possible.

Police Scotland is currently undertaking an ongoing safety campaign for motorcyclists, Operation Zenith. This has officers out on patrols dedicated to reducing motorcycle casualties and engaging directly with riders.

Chief Superintendent Andy Edmonston, Head of Road Policing at Police Scotland, said: “We understand the thrill of motorcycling but we also want people to keep safe, especially when overtaking and negotiating left hand bends.

“Motorcyclists are more vulnerable than other road users and since the start of April, we have already seen three motorcyclists killed and others seriously injured. As the roads get busier in the coming months, with an increase in tourist and foreign drivers, who are unfamiliar with the roads, I would encourage motorcyclists to take extra care. Unfortunately at this time last year, a collision involving a motorcyclist resulted in the death of two people.

“In order to reinforce the road safety message and discourage inappropriate riding or driving, Road Policing Officers will be out in numbers in marked and unmarked patrol cars and motorcycles, with support from the Safety Camera Units. We will be engaging with road users who choose to ignore the advice given. A number of offenders have been detected speeding and driving dangerously or carelessly on previous weekends during this operation.”