Organisation: Department for Transport
Date uploaded: 4th August 2014
Date published/launched: July 2014
This radio campaign encourages drivers to take longer to look for motorcyclists, on the back of figures which show that 30 bikers are killed or injured every day at junctions.
The campaign launched on 21 July 2014 and ran for four weeks on national radio with the aim of reducing the number of motorcyclist and driver collisions on our roads.
THINK! research shows that drivers believe the majority of motorcycle crashes happen because of bikers breaking the speed limit. However, the statistics show that around half of motorcyclist collisions in which a rider is killed or seriously hurt occur at junctions, with drivers failing to look properly being the most common cause.
The campaign was supported by motorcyclist Priscila Currie after a collision in central London changed her life.
Ms Currie said: “My accident happened because a car pulled out in front of me. I wasn’t riding fast, only at 30 mph, but the accident had a profound impact on my life – physically and mentally.
“I was hospitalised for 12 days with severe fractures and underwent 18 months of physiotherapy. It took more than three years for me to find the confidence to get back on a bike and I now live with pain every day, which has affected my mobility.
“People make mistakes but drivers should remember that mistakes can cost lives. Behind the motorcycle helmet is a person. We have families, friends, careers and a life, just like other road users, so I would urge drivers to please take longer, especially at junctions, to look out for motorcyclists.”
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