Seasonal enforcement targets motorcyclists

 

Cheshire Police will be out on patrol over the Easter period as part of a motorcycle enforcement operation which is running over the initial dates of March 23/24 & 30/31st April 6/7th & 13/14th.

Operation Caesar II will be a joint effort by North Wales Police and Cheshire Police to provide a high policing presence in a bid to reduce motorcycle casualties.  Historically, the force area experiences a seasonal increase in the number of collisions during the spring/summer period where it is evident that riders on high powered bikes can take risks and as a consequence are likely to become involved in collisions.

The operation has been launched to coincide with a period when a high number of motorcyclists are likely to be on the roads, such as Bank Holiday weekends and for specific motorbike events.  Officers will be pulling over motorcyclists for moving traffic offences concerning speed, dangerous driving or excessive noise.   

National statistics show that a number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions involve motorcycles which occur on a small number of strategic roads throughout the force area - in particular specific "gateways" which carry motorcycling traffic into North Wales or onward through the county using renowned motorcycle routes.

During 2012, seven out of the eight motorcycle fatal road collisions in Cheshire occurred over the weekend period, two on a Saturday and five on a Sunday. This trend has continued into 2013, where three of the five fatal collisions to date have involved motorcycles, two of which have occurred on a Saturday.

It is hoped that the operation will reduce the number of collisions involving motorcycles throughout the force area but also give officers the chance to engage with motorcyclists by promoting ‘Bikesafe’ − a police led motorcycle project that is run by most forces throughout the UK, helping to reduce the number of bikers being hurt on the roads.

As part of the enforcement activity, Cheshire Police will also be watching road users; that may endanger motorcyclists on the road for moving offences such as using mobile phones or speeding whilst driving.