North West drivers urged to:- "Look out for Bikes" during TT races
DRIVERS across the North West are being
reminded to 'Look out for Bikes' over the next few weeks; as
thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts pass through the region on their way to Isle
of Man TT races.
Highways England will be using its network of electronic variable message signs
(VMSs) up and down the region's motorway network to urge drivers to be extra
vigilant over the next few weeks and help cut accidents and injuries involving
bikers travelling to and back home from the races; most of them getting ferries
to the Isle of Man from Heysham and Liverpool.
This year's festival of events will be taking place between Saturday, 30 May
2015 and Friday, 12 June 2015, with race week itself starting on Saturday, 6
June 2015. Some 14,000 bikers are already booked on ferry crossings from the
North West to the Isle of Man.
With potentially tens of thousands of riders and passengers travelling through
the region over the next few weeks the 'Look out for Bikes' signs
are being displayed on VMSs along key routes to Heysham and Liverpool including
the M6, M62 and M61. Signs started to appear since Thursday, 28 May 2015 and
continue until Monday, 15 June 2015.
Stuart Lovatt, Highways England's head of road safety, said:- "A
significant number of TT enthusiasts will be travelling through the area as
motorcycle riders and pillion passengers. Many will not know our roads and our
message to drivers is please consider how vulnerable people are on motorcycles
and take a moment to look twice at every turn, every lane change and every
junction. We would ask motorcycle riders to be considerate in return, plan your
route and blend with the local traffic to keep everyone moving safely."
