The South Down Neighbourhood Policing Team in partnership with PSNI Road Policing Unit and Newry, Mourne & Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership, is hosting a Motorcycle Safety event on the Central Promenade in Newcastle on Sunday 17 May.
Motorcycling enthusiasts can have their bike safety checked by a qualified mechanic and get tips and advice from police about keeping safe on our roads.
Sergeant Kenny Gracey said: “Unlike people travelling in motor vehicles, motorcyclists have a lot less protection when they’re involved in a collision. Motorcyclists are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured when involved in a road traffic collision than a car driver for the same distance travelled. This makes motorcyclists especially vulnerable if they come off their bike or are struck by another vehicle.
We know motorcyclists are passionate about their sport and we want them to be able to pursue their pastime in the safest way possible. That is why, in addition to mechanics performing safety checks on bikes on the day, we will also have representatives from Bikesafe at the event. The aim of Bikesafe, a national police-led motorcycle road safety scheme, is to raise awareness amongst motorcyclists of the key risks they can face on the roads and assist them in becoming more confident and skilful advanced riders.
Already this year four motorcyclists have been killed on our roads and as a police service we do not want to see any more needless loss of life.
Representatives from the charities Mental Health Motorbike and the Air Ambulance NI will also be on site along with our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.
Come along to the event in Newcastle, have your bike checked and speak to police officers and the other agencies present, all of whom will be only too happy to provide any help or advice they can to make sure your motorcycling career is as long and as safe as possible.”
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