Somerset are to launch a local ‘Think Bike, Think Biker’ road safety campaign to remove the anonymity behind motorcyclists.   The ‘Professionals’ campaign will feature riders from the area and highlight the work that each do for the local community, including a fire-fighter, doctor and a nurse.   The hope for the campaign is based on the idea that drivers will be more aware of motorcyclists if they can associate with a real person under the helmet.   The local initiative follows on from a higher than average number of collisions involving bikers on Somerset roads in recent years. Head of Road Safety for Somerset, Terry Beale, explains the basis for the campaign;  “Research for the Department for Transport has shown that road users who personally know bikers – as friends, relatives, or work colleagues for example, are much more likely to be respectful and watching out for motorcyclists in general.“We want to remove the anonymity of motorcyclists and to try and reduce the number of collisions in which they are involved. ‘Sorry Mate, I didn’t see you’, isn’t an excuse when you put someone else in danger”   The campaign follows on from the television ad 'Think Bike, Think Biker' campaign and began on March 26th, running on the back of Somerset buses for four weeks.                                                                                                                                                                               

ah.. that sounds quite good                                                                                                                                                                               

“Research for the Department for Transport has shown that road users who personally know bikers – as friends, relatives, or work colleagues for example, are much more likely to be respectful and watching out for motorcyclists in general"

Thats cos they are always getting it in the neck about looking for us.

But I agree its a good idea, maybe something that should be considered nationally.

Tho I still say if its not drummed into them at driving lesson stage its a lot harder                                                                                                                                                                              

Hope other areas keep this running                                                                                                                                                                              

Its about time they saw us as real people with lives and families who want us to get home after a trek out on the bike.

As said above, hope it becomes national and keeps going, maybe we could start them in our areas???? Worth a bash!!!                                                                                                                                                                             

it's a great idea the more thats done the better, one of the radio stations around here are running messages about bikers                                                                                                                                                                              

Great idea - I am a Somerset biker and attended a bike-related funeral last week. Anything to make us safer on the roads has to be a good thing.                                                                                                                                                                              

Great initiative, hope it goes national, maybe something MAG should get their teeth into.                                                                                                                                                                             

This sounds great, anything to make those of us on motor bikes real