| HA agrees to fund Handle It or Lose It
The Highways Agency (HA) has pledged £40,000 towards the latest phase of the Handle It or Lose It campaign, which attempts to cut the number of accidents involving motorcyclists.
Riders of high-powered motorcycles featured high in the casualty rates on HA roads. While motorcyclists represent only six per cent of all accidents on Agency roads, they are 30 times more likely to be fatally injured. In 2002, 64 motorcyclists were killed and 606 injured on HA roads.
Under the campaign a web-based route planning and reporting facility, Your route to a better ride, has been launched through www.handleitorloseit.com . The system overlays crash data relating to motorcyclists on detailed maps, using symbols to represent fatal or serious injuries. Another symbol displays information relating to problem bends or junctions with a record of motorcycle accidents.
Riders are encouraged to share information on road conditions that may cause a rider to lose control of their machine, and this information tells the HA about the roads that bikers use.
Since it was launched in April 2003, Handle It or Lose It has delivered riding tips, coaching and the opportunity for riders to share near-death experiences with other riders from around the world. Written by riders for riders, the campaign uses humour and familiar language to pass on important safety advice.
"Handle it or Lose it is a new and innovative method of targeting this group," said Stuart Lovatt, the HA's road safety action plan co-ordinator. " We need to use new approaches and technology to help this group. The reporting system for riders and the maps showing casualty hot spots use the internet to open a dialogue between the Agency and motorcyclists. This will enable the Agency to help tackle this problem where traditional methods have failed."
The counties participating in the campaign are North Yorkshire, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Kent & Medway, West and East Sussex and Dorset.
|
