Bikers are being given the chance to improve their riding skills alongside experienced police motorcyclists as part of a summer road safety initiative.
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary's Police Motorcycle Wing is launching Bikesafe for 2007 to provide riders with a safe learning experience and to help reduce the number of biker deaths on the region's roads.
The Bikesafe events have been running across the Force for a number of years, with many riders having completed the sessions, but this year the course has been further improved.
advertisementIt has been extended to six hours and will include longer theory sessions, followed by the popular observed ride outs with police traffic motorcyclists.
PC Chris Lancaster, Road Casualty Reduction Officer for Torbay, said: "The Force does continue to suffer high levels of motorcycle casualties, with 20 riders killed and 127 seriously injured during 2006".
"We would encourage the riders of all larger bikes to attend a police Bikesafe session. This course gives riders a taster of what is available and encourages them to go on to undertake further training to enhance their riding skills."
The initiative will be launched at Brixham police station at 11am on 27 April, where officers will be accompanied by a new Motorcycle Casualty Reduction Display, which contains a crashed Kawasaki ZX6 that was involved in a serious collision in Cornwall in 2004.
The rider only received slight injuries because he was wearing very good quality bike leathers and helmet.
The purpose of the display is to attract motorcyclists to discuss motorcycling issues with police and to highlight the importance of Bikesafe and other training avenues.
The Bikesafe scheme starts with shorter taster sessions at Paignton Bike Festival on 4-6 May and those will be free-of-charge.
The full day sessions will be held at; Plymouth on 14 and 15 June, North Devon on 23 and 24 June, Truro on 15 and 16 September and Exeter on 29 and 30 September.
Sessions cost £25 for each rider to cover the costs of running the programme. All riders must have a full driving licence and their bike must be insured, taxed and road legal.
Places can be booked through the Force website at www.devon-cornwall.police.uk, by collecting a booking form from various police displays at bike events during the summer, or by contacting
(01626) 323755. Gift vouchers