Skills mean safer riding

10:37am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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HEREFORDSHIRE bikers of all ages and experience are invited to attend a motorbike skills day this weekend.

The free event is being held for motorcyclists to improve their skills and reduce the chances of serious injury on the county's roads.

There will be the opportunity to have a free assessed ride with a qualified Institute of Advanced Motorcyclist instructor, who will then give advice and feedback on their performance.

The assessed riding sessions will last up to one hour and cover a wide range of road conditions.

The event is being organised by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, the Herefordshire-based Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM) and the Safer Roads Partnership.

Its main aim is to address the statistics that show motorcyclists making up 1% of road traffic yet accounting for 18% of all road deaths nationally.

Jon Hall, assistant chief fire officer, said: “We want to encourage motorcyclists of all ages and abilities to attend this free event where experts will demonstrate how they can improve their skills and thus save themselves and others from injury or worse.” Dave Holland, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I have been a keen biker for over 30 years and considered myself to be a fairly competent rider.

“I had a couple of ride outs with an IAM instructor and genuinely felt that my skill level improved and my awareness of my own abilities was greatly enhanced.

“I would definitely recommend it both as a road safety professional and as a biker.” The event takes place on Saturday between 10am and 4pm at the Countryside Centre, near Worcester's County Hall.

Bikers can turn up on the day to enrol for a ride out or they can call free on 0800 0321155 to reserve a session.