British Superbike star Leon Haslam took time out from the racetrack last week to help launch Operation Focus, Derbyshire Constabulary's annual motorcycle casualty reduction campaign.
Sisters Melanie and Kerry Smith, whose parents were both killed in separate motorcycle collisions, were also at the launch.
23-year-old Leon, the son of legendary motorcycle racer Ron Haslam, said: "I think that people see me racing fast and want to copy me on the roads, but this should only ever be done in a controlled environment like a race track."
Operation Focus, which will run from April to September, uses a combination of enforcement and education to encourage motorcyclists to slow down. Roads policing officers, the safety camera team, section patrol officers and the ANPR team will be carrying out increased enforcement operations at weekends and Bank Holidays on identified motorcycle hot routes.
Derbyshire County Council will continue to play a vital role by ensuring that road surfaces and conditions are safe, putting up motorcycle awareness signs along the hot routes and carrying out the Bike Plus training scheme.
Figures show that in previous years Operation Focus has had a positive effect on motorcycle casualties. In 2005, six motorcyclists were killed in collisions on the identified hot routes, while in 2006 just one motorcyclist was killed.
Chief inspector Paul Berry, head of Derbyshire Constabulary's roads policing unit, said: "In urban areas two thirds of collisions involving motorcycles are the fault of other roads users, but when it comes to rural roads, such as those in Derbyshire, the same cannot be said.
"Many collisions and fatalities involving motorcycles in this county are caused by the rider travelling too fast, especially when negotiating bends."
For further information contact Rebecca Hampson on 01773 572913.
