Think Bike Safety This Easter

This Easter we urge motorcyclists to take extra care when out on the roads and equally appeal to drivers to be more mindful of motorcycles and pedal cyclists on the roads of Wiltshire and Swindon.

Wiltshire Police has joined with forces across the UK on a campaign, Co-ordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), to improve safety for those travelling on two wheels.

As the weather improves we traditionally see motorcycles coming out from winter breaks and we ask riders to conduct checks on their machines to ensure they are safe and roadworthy.

The things we ask riders to check in particular are tyres, including both tyre pressures and tread depth. The tread must be at least 1.0mm and you should check the overall condition of the tyre. If in any doubt about the condition of your tyres speak with a reputable retailer to ensure they are safe and legal.

We also ask riders to check chain tension, the condition of the rear sprocket and on shaft driven bikes to make sure there are no fluid leaks around the seals towards the rear wheel.

Another easy check to conduct is all the lights on the machine and with changing weather all lights may be required so should be in good working order.

These are the visual checks you can conduct before getting on the machine  - they could save your life.

If you want extra peace of mind, book a service or inspection at a local garage to ensure your bike is at its very best.

Wiltshire Police will be out actively engaging with the biking community to try and increase the road safety awareness and ensure people enjoy the roads of Wiltshire safely.