Emergency services attend Swancote motorcycle safety event

Some of the bikers who travel to Swancote on a Wednesday evening. In the forefront of the picture is the motorcycle of a rider who was killed in the Bridgnorth area and is being used at the events with the permission of the dead man's widow

Over 700 bikers stopped off at Swancote Country Club in Bridgnorth last night where a motorcycle safety event was held to raise awareness of motorcycle safety on Shropshire roads.

A stark new bike safety campaign poster showing the mock-up of a motorcycle crash along with the caption 'Will we see you again?' was displayed on Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's Community Outreach Vehicle.

The motorcycle used in the photograph was involved in a fatal road traffic collision and was on display at the event with the permission of the rider's widow.

The Bridgnorth Community Safety Partnership, which includes Bridgnorth District Council, West Mercia Constabulary, the Safer Roads Partnership and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, want to combat last year's "shocking" statistics in which five motorcyclists died and 16 were seriously injured in and around the roads of Bridgnorth.

The event was attended by local police and firefighters who provided safety advice, leaflets and free earplugs to bikers throughout the evening.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service Community Outreach Vehicle displaying the 'Will we see you again' campaign poster

Andy Bevon, SFRS Retained Support Officer, said "It was a little quieter than usual due to the football but the evening was still very successful."

Discussing the impact of the new poster campaign and the broken motorcycle he added, "the bike and the picture really did get the bikers talking and brought them to the area where we could discuss bike safety with them and hand out our leaflets and free earplugs. Almost all of the people who came to have a look at the bike and the picture, would ask how it happened and what happened to the rider."

The motorcycle safety events will be held on various dates throughout the summer at Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth and Alan's Cafe, Quatt.

Motorcycle Safety Event timetable

Date Day Venue

23 April Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

21 May Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

25 May Sunday Alans Cafe, Quatt - cancelled

18 June Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

29 June Sunday Alans Cafe, Quatt

2 July Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

16 July Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

6 August Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

20 August Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

24 August Sunday Alans Cafe, Quatt

10 September Wednesday Swancote Country Club, Bridgnorth

22nd May, 2008