A campaign has been launched to lower the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

It comes after three motorcyclists died on Dorset’s roads between January and April, equal to 60 per cent of those killed in collisions last year.

During 2018, a total of five motorcyclists were killed while a further 80 were left seriously injured.

The number has fallen since 2017, when eight riders died as a result of a collision and 92 were seriously hurt.

Dorset Echo:

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “It is reassuring to see a consistent reduction over the past few years in the number of people seriously injured. However, any injury or death on the road is one too many and therefore we will continue our work with partners in the local authority and fire service to reduce this figure.”

Dorset Police has launched a campaign to reduce the number of collisions. Officers are erecting ‘Think bike’ signs in ‘hot spot’ areas in the hope of preventing further deaths or serious injuries.

Dorset Echo:

A spokesman for Dorset Police added: “We’ve put these posters up in ‘hot spot’ collision areas to remind all road users to look out for each other.”

Dr Ian Mew, who runs the charity DocBike, has welcomed the new signs.

He said: “The new signs are great. Anything to just help everyone – bikers and car drivers – to think about the dangers of being in a motorcycle collision is a good thing. Theses signs are just another way of raising awareness of the vulnerability of bikers.”

Docbike charity works with emergency services and other road safety charities to eradicate motorcycle deaths on Dorset’s roads.

Dr Mew said: “Our research combining data from TARN and Dorset Traffic Police suggests that 80 per cent of those bikers killed or critically injured could have avoided the collision altogether had the rider known how to recognise a potential risk and modify their riding at that time to avoid it. That’s why we’re so determined to raise awareness amongst bikers about what kills riders and what to look for to avoid becoming a statistic.”

He added: “I echo the comments of the police. We won’t rest until we’ve eradicated all motorcycle related deaths, not only in Dorset, but across the UK.”

To find out more about the work of Docbike visit www.docbike.org