Speeders on the fast-track to court Police are targeting the bikers who treat Yorkshire roads like a speedway track Martin Wainwright Thursday May 27, 2004 The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,2763,1225412,00.html Traffic moves slowly in the north of England's national parks, especially over bank holidays, but there is one exception which emergency services are dreading in the countdown to the weekend. An astonished traffic policeman logged an example a month ago on the caravan-clogged A65 below Ingleborough Fell - a high-powered motorbike screamed past at 134mph. "That isn't the record for North Yorkshire either," says Superintendent Martin Deacon, who is leading the region's biggest drive against so-called extreme speeders. "We've had enough. We're the ones who have to pick up the pieces - literally. The bodies and body parts left on the road." Last year 28 bikers and pillion passengers were killed on the tempting switchbacks of England's largest county - 30% of traffic fatalities compared with the national figure of 2%. More than 180 other riders were injured. This year has seen nine deaths. Over Easter weekend alone there was one fatality, three serious injuries and six other serious motorbike accidents. In advance of the bank holiday the North Yorkshire force - which has a longstanding name for biker-friendly safety policies - is launching its answer: a crackdown aimed at driving extreme speeders off the beautiful roads. Cars as well as high-powered motorbikes have been caught in a preliminary trial of extra patrols in the Dales and moors, which has just seen the first offenders in court. Chris Naylor, 29, from Leeds, and Karen Illingworth, a mother of three from Harrogate, were fast-tracked to Skipton magistrates for an extreme-speeders' hearing. More than 100 other cases are already listed to follow. Mr Naylor was caught speeding at 103mph on the Settle bypass, and Mrs Illingworth was caught driving at 91mph on the accident-prone A59 at Blubberhouses Moor. The crackdown involves more than hefty fines, licence penalty points and large insurance premiums. Supt Deacon is keen to use more serious charges on the worst offenders. "If the speed and circumstances warrant it, we'll be making a case for dangerous driving to the Crown Prosecution Service," he says. "That's an imprisonable offence which should make extreme speeders think. "We've had a thorough look at our traditional emphasis on road safety education. But do you really have to educate someone not to go at over 100mph?" The force is working with North Yorkshire county council on new road safety engineering, such as changes to camber on roads whose bends and changing levels draw bikers from all over Britain. Councillor Peter Sowray, the county executive's member for environmental services, says: "We've some of the most picturesque roads in the country, and we know that many bikers enjoy the challenge they offer their riding skills. But a minority are literally using public roads as race tracks - a race track they share with pedestrians, horses, tractors, buses and tens of thousands of cars." Three bikes were ordered off the road last weekend for using illegal racing exhausts. Inspector Chris Charlton, a biker himself, said: "Can anyone tell me what the point is of enhancing the performance of a machine that can already travel at twice the maximum speed limit?" The crackdown is raising some hackles, but mostly in the twilit world which advertises details of undercover North Yorkshire police teams on the internet. But most bikers' clubs share the growing concern at the death rate on the region's roads, with so many of their own members among the victims. Dave Gwynne, a former racing driver who runs the Bikers Cafe at Garforth, off the A1M at Leeds, said the problem had to be recognised. He said: "Some are young riders who tragically think they're bulletproof. But you've got the older ones too, who can afford to treat themselves to a new bike for around £5,500 to £8,000, or say £12,000 for the top range like Ducati. They may not have been on a bike for some years, and those are very powerful. "It's not easy to describe the draw of biking ... But then one day people don't turn up here as usual for spares, and you realise: they're not around any more." --------------------------------------------------------------------- It's the dozy motorists who can't be bothered to indicate and look into their mirrors who should be targeted by the police along with the "middle lane morons". Archie
Accidents are a result of carelessness. Speed only determines the severity of the injuries should someone **** up. -- 11 parrots http://www.petersparrots.com 93 silly video clips http://www.insanevideoclips.com 1259 digital photos http://www.petersphotos.com If our service isn't up to your standards, please lower your standards.
I have. What do I win? -- AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas) Kawasaki ZX-6R J1 BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL) BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, TEAR#3 (and KotL), DS#5, COSOC#9, KotTFSTR# The speccy Geordie twat.
As I'm still riding a bike (although obviously not while typing this) it's a bit premature to say I've survived. Yes, I've survived so far, but that's no reason to suppose that I'll keep on doing it. After all, I've got a perfect track record of not dying of old age, but if I live long enough then that's sure to kill me. As soon as I'm dead I'll post here and let you know how I died and then we can all judge whether I survived riding a bike or not. Please hold ... -- AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas) Kawasaki ZX-6R J1 BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL) BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, TEAR#3 (and KotL), DS#5, COSOC#9, KotTFSTR# The speccy Geordie twat.
If I trip on the stairs, fracture my skull and die on my way to my room you're going to feel really bad, you know. In fact I think I will do that. I can only hope that my sudden death will inspire the government to finally bring in the long overdue legislation stopping people taking the stairs two, or even three, at a time and to ensure that people only tackle stairs that have had an annual inspection to ensure that they're safe. I also favour compulsory use of grippy footwear and BSI approved head protection whilst stair climbing and it goes without saying that loud carpets will be touted as the number 1 social menace of our time. -- AndrewR, D.Bot (Celeritas) Kawasaki ZX-6R J1 BOTAFOT#2,ITJWTFO#6,UKRMRM#1/13a,MCT#1,DFV#2,SKoGA#0 (and KotL) BotToS#5,SBS#25,IbW#34, TEAR#3 (and KotL), DS#5, COSOC#9, KotTFSTR# The speccy Geordie twat.
snip y................bikers do speed to stupid levels and snip I'd be greatly astonished if you weren't a troll. Go forth and multiply. -- Nidge ZX6R J2 Stunning in zit yellow. KX 125 MX 'I'm snot green -fly ME'. A few bits of CB500S in Norwegian Parrot blue. BOTAFOT#63 'Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand'. Homer (Simpson).
This one is even better. Impairment — alcohol 222 3.8% 3.8% of accidents have alcohol as a causal factor. 96.2% of accidents involve sober drivers. The last big 'killer' was dink driving, which was bollocks. The latest one is speed, which is bollocks. The top 4 causal factors are: Failure to judge other persons path or speed Behaviour - careless/thoughtless/reckless Inattention Looked but did not see or in other words: Bad Driving. More training and 5 year retests would go a long way to reducung road casualties, creating training jobs, reducing congestion, increasing revenue, creating demand for public transport and, best of all, increasing the value of professional, trained and certified drivers. -- ColonelTupperware spouting bollocks on Usenet since 1997 Usenet FAQ at http://www.its.caltech.edu/its/services/internetapps/news/news2.shtml UPCE FAQ at http://upce.org.uk/ UKRM FAQ at http://www.ukrm.net/faq/
How about raising the retirement age to 85, as an initial step. That will immediately improve the pensions cash-flow, with more people working and less people claiming pensions. Then, we could gradually reduce it, say by one year per year.
