As part of the Hertfordshire Road Safety Partnership, the fire and rescue service is looking to make a significant reduction in the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured.

Last year motorcyclists, while representing only 0.6% of road users, were involved in

21% of fatal or serious collisions on Hertfordshire's roads. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue

Service is determined to help reduce this and the new Firebike will help improve safety

for motorcyclists across the county.

Launched at last week's Bikefest, the top of the range BMW S1000RR will promote the

initiative from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, as part of the Hertfordshire Road

Safety Partnership.

The aim of the Firebike initiative is to make a significant reduction in the number of

motorcycle riders who are killed or seriously injured on the road. The focus is to

persuade riders to take responsibility for their own safety by taking post-test and

advanced training, ensure their visibility to other road users, wear protective clothing and

equipment, and adopt safe-riding attitudes and behaviour.

The Firebike will be ridden by operational firefighters volunteering their own time and will attend motorcycle and other events throughout Hertfordshire to engage with bike

enthusiasts.

These volunteers are enthusiastic motorcyclists themselves and through their firefighting

role can be called out to road collisions as often as they are to fires. They see first hand

the sometimes tragic outcomes of riding a motorcycle and will use their experience to

deliver safety messages to riders and their pillion passengers.

Richard Thake, Executive Member for Community Safety, said: "We have stepped up the

effort to educate motorcyclists on the dangers of the road with the Firebike.

"The aim is to make motorcyclists think about the best ways to keep themselves, and

their passengers, safe on the roads. It is vital that motorcyclists wear the right protective

clothing to reduce injury if they do crash. Also, by improving their riding skills and

understanding that bikes are less visible to other road users, crashes can be avoided."

Hertfordshire's Firebike was joined by 12 other Firebikes from around the country at

Bikefest, where motorbike fans of all ages braved the odd shower to enjoy a fun packed

day of stunt riding by Marc 'Sparky' Chennell, Mondo Enduro legend Austin Vince, off-roading and trials riding, and a very personal Q and A session from road racing hero Guy

Martin.

There were stalls from major motorbike manufacturers and local companies and clubs.

There were also displays of police motorcycle riders and an armed response unit, as well

as assessments and competitions run by Herts and Beds Advanced Motorcyclists.

The event raised over £2000 which will be split between the Firefighters Charity, Help

For Heroes, and towards making motorcycling safer in Hertfordshire.

 

Posted September 8th, 2011 at 0950 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com