MOTORCYCLISTS are being targeted to promote road safety.

New-look BikeSafe Rider workshops were launched by Hampshire Constabulary in March this year.

Now, officers are commencing a month-long enforcement and education campaign aimed at reducing the number of casualties on the county's roads.

Since the beginning of the year, eight motorcyclists have died as a result of collisions in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

During each weekend in May, police will patrol motorcycle casualty routes including the A339 from Alton to Basingstoke, the A272 from Winchester to Petersfield, the A3057 from Romsey to Andover, and the A32 from Fareham to Alton.

The force will continue to make contact with motorcyclists over the next few weeks with Roads Policing officers attending bike meetings to discuss the importance of safe riding and promote BikeSafe.

The workshops consist of classroom-based theory, followed by an afternoon "on-road" observed riding session with a police motorcyclist, covering 80 miles of urban and country roads.

Last year, 20 motorcyclists died in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - an increase of 29 per cent compared with 2006. There were a further 299 serious injury collisions across the two counties involving motorcyclists.

Pc Mick Gear, Hampshire Constabulary's BikeSafe co-ordinator, said: "We don't want any motorcyclists to stop enjoying their bikes, but with a worrying number of fatalities on our roads already this year, our campaign is all about working with motorcyclists to reduce casualties and promote safe riding.

"Motorbikes are powerful machines and one dangerous move or a split-second lack of concentration can mean the difference between life and death."

The force's May campaign coincides with the Department for Transport's Think! Road Safety motorcycle initiative.

Anyone interested in workshops should log on to the Hampshire section of www.bikesafe.co.uk.

10:57am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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