July update from the North Wales BikeSafe team
I would like to start my July North Wales update with an observation on Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) on North Wales roads for the first six months of the year. This is my set of observations, nothing is new it’s the same old problems.
For KSI ‘rider to blame’ the main cause is bends and overtaking. For KSI ‘rider not to blame’ it is junctions and roundabouts. The rider to blame numbers are much higher than not to blame. Sundays at 5pm is peak time with 11am to 10pm across Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays also busy times.
Why post on this topic? Well, I am a strong believer in training. In the past I have stated we all have to do the dreaded mandatory training at work, as I found out as a volunteer as well. If you are in many industries or the Armed Forces, mandatory training is part of life. Yet we presume of ourselves and our loved ones that once you have passed the driving/motorbike test that no further training is required.
Well, if the ‘blame’ numbers are high and the ‘not to blame’ numbers are high, we obviously do not know everything. It does not matter what type of further training you do as long as you get some. Of course, we in NWP BikeSafe will welcome you to join one of our workshops.
There were two workshops this month, both delivered by Sgt Medwyn Williams at North Wales Fire and Rescue Services in Porthmadog, and at North Wales Police in St Asaph.
Porthmadog – An enthusiastic group of attendees enjoyed discussing how they could improve their riding skills, based on the course content and shared experiences. Their input was invaluable. As a bonus, the rain stopped just prior to afternoon’s observed ride in the glorious Welsh mountains where all attendees and received feedback on their riding skills.
St Asaph – It was great to see such a mixed group of attendees having an enjoyable and interactive session discussing how they could improve their riding skills and where we, as riders, are vulnerable. This was followed up by more discussions during lunch with the observers who would be taking them on their observed ride. The weather held and each attendee benefited from structured feedback at the end of the typical 40-50 miles of riding on the great North Wales roads.
Our next workshops are on September 7th in Llay, 21st in Colwyn Bay and 24th in Porthmadog – book here: https://bikesafe.co.uk/northwales/
Finally, Sgt Simon Hughes and volunteer observer Kev Shelton delivered an excellent presentation to one of the local MCC. I will let the club feedback say it all:
“Feedback from many of the club members in attendance was most positive. There were no negative comments. It would be true to say that the motorcycle community, like the general public, tend to base their understanding of motorcycling on ill-informed information on social media and chit chat. Riders, rarely see themselves as in need of improvement or a better understanding of the facts. They were very receptive to the information you provided and clearly the advantages of BikeSafe towards the road of skilful riding.”
