News

So far this year, 25 motorcyclists have been killed in Kent. This compares to 13 in the whole of 2006 and represents a 92% increase in motorcyclist fatalities. Nationally, motorcyclists represent approximately 1% of road traffic but are involved in nearly 30% of all crashes on the roads.

Kent Highway Service (KHS) have installed ‘crash site’ signs close to sites of motorcyclist crashes. The aim is to raise awareness of previous crashes amongst motorcyclists and other road users. Due to the specific nature of this campaign message, a motorcyclist is the image on the sign. However other vehicles are also often involved in these crashes, not just motorcyclists. 

The signs have been positioned on routes at or near the location of a motorcycle crash that has occurred within the last 5 years. These are combined with ‘THINK BIKE’ posters at targeted junctions warning other drivers to watch out for bikers before they move off.

Sometimes it’s the actions of drivers that put motorcyclists at risk and sometimes it’s the actions of the motorcyclist. For whatever reason, the outcome is often the same – serious injury to the motorcyclist.

Motorcyclists are clearly vulnerable; they have less protection around them, drivers often don’t make enough effort to look for them and changing road and lighting conditions can present greater challenges to them.

A lot of motorcyclist crashes happen with no other vehicle involved; loss of control being a particular factor. However motorcyclists have always been vulnerable to car drivers pulling out in front of them, especially cars turning right, and this is a factor in many crashes this year.

It is important to remind car drivers of the difficulties motorcyclists have and especially that care is needed when turning right.

The crash site signs are currently at the following locations:

1. A28 Ashford – High Halden
2. A28 Canterbury – Thanet
3. A20 Ashford – Maidstone
4. A259 New Romney – Brenzett – Sussex border
5. A2070 Brenzett - Ashford
6. A21 Lamberhurst – Flimwell
7. A229 Linton – Hawkhurst

The signs will be then be moved to other crash sites in 6 months time.

Tom Morton, Motorcyclist Safety Officer for Kent Highway Services says: “Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable vehicles that use the roads. If a car and a bike are involved in a collision, 99 times out of 100, the bike along with the rider come off worse. Having seen these signs, we hope that riders, and drivers, will think more about the road ahead and the potential danger. It is our intention to leave these signs in place for at least 6 months and then relocate them on other routes at other crash sites. The effect can then be monitored and evaluated, site by site.”