A SPRING road safety initiative will see the police joining forces with the island’s ambulance service, advanced motorcyclists, fire service and government road safety team to warn motorists to take care as summer traffic and motorcycles in particular increases.
The Department of Infrastructure’s publicity picture shows a motorcyclist heading from Douglas to Ramsey as a reminder to riders that the TT course is two-way at all times except during TT fortnight.
Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK, who has competed in the Manx Grand Prix, said: ‘Traditionally from Easter onwards those Manx motorcyclists who have stored their bike during the winter take it for the first ride of the year. I know, I am one of them!
‘If it is your first outing spend a little time checking your machine, especially tyre pressures and the condition of the tyres, your fluid levels, are all topped up, chain is lubricated and properly adjusted and finally practise a couple of stops to ensure your brakes are fully efficient. Whether you are riding or driving just take that extra moment to look for bikes before making a manoeuvre.’
The campaign, called Mountain Safe, will run every weekend to TT practice week and police will step up patrols around the TT course and on the mountain in particular. The initiative is to address the increase in accidents which comes each year with extra traffic, improved weather and longer days.
Inspector Terry Stephen said the aim was to offer motorcyclists advice about their bike’s roadworthiness and the ambulance service would promote the ‘crash card’ scheme which supplies essential personal information to doctors and paramedics.
He said complaints about riders and drivers increased seasonally and anti-social riders would be dealt with robustly. They will also be extolling the virtues of advanced rider training with the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists (IAM).
Chris Roughley, a senior observer with the Isle of Man Advanced Motorcyclists added: ‘Adjust your speed according to the road conditions, traffic and distance you can clearly see.
‘You should always be able to stop safely whilst keeping to your side of the road, within the distance you can see to be clear.
‘Anything else is little better than playing Russian Roulette.’
The initiative is also being supported by the fire service.