The chairman of a South West road safety group has urged caution among road users after two motorcyclists were killed in collisions within days in Devon.
Yesterday police confirmed that a 51-year-old motorcyclist died after sustaining injuries in a collision in Plymouth city centre on Thursday, July 8.
Another biker sadly lost their life in a crash on the B3137 near Nomansland on the evening of Friday, July 9.
Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is chairman of the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership.
Commissioner Hernandez, who is also the national APCC lead on road safety, said: “Every life lost on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those involved in these collisions.
“As the weather warms up this week, and with the summer holidays nearly upon us, far more motorcyclists will be out and about, exploring the roads of Devon and Cornwall.
“As motorists, it’s our responsibility to make sure we are alert and looking out for other road users at all times – so please ‘think bike’ when you are out driving.
“Similarly, there may be many motorcyclists brushing off their bikes in the garage having not ridden them for some time. I would urge you to be cautious and take your time to re-familiarise yourselves with you motorbikes, as well as making sure they are in a roadworthy condition.
“As always, take your time with journeys, don’t exceed the speed limit and let’s make sure everyone arrives safely at their destination.”
For more information about motorcycle safety visit https://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/cyclists-and-motorcyclists/ride-safe
About the recent fatal collisions
Police were called at 6.20pm on Friday 9 July 2021, to reports of a three-vehicle road traffic collision on the B3137 near to Nomansland, Tiverton. The collision involved a motorcycle, a van and a car.
As a result of the collision the motorcyclist, a 45-year-old woman, was pronounced deceased at the scene. Her next of kin have been advised and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Officers from the Specialist Roads Policing Team and Forensic collision investigators attended in order to conduct a full examination of the scene.
Any witnesses to the collision or anyone with dashcam footage are asked to call 101 quoting Police Log reference 695 09/07/21.
At around 10.15am on Thursday 8 July 2021 emergency services were called to a serious road traffic collision on Cobourg Street, Plymouth. The collision involved a car and a motorcycle.
The motorcyclist, a 51-year-old man from Plymouth, was taken to Derriford Hospital with injuries. Police have since been informed that he died in hospital on Sunday 11 July. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
A 38-year-old man from Plymouth was arrested in connection to the incident and remains under investigation pending further enquiries.
Specially trained police officers attended the scene from the Alliance Roads Policing Team and the Serious Collisions Investigation Team.
The road was closed in total for seven hours whilst emergency services were in attendance at the scene.
Any witnesses to the Collision particularly anyone with Dash Cam footage are asked to contact the Police on 101 quoting Log number 336 of 8 July 2021.
What is Vision Zero South West?
Vision Zero is a shared commitment between a number of organisations across Devon and Cornwall. The one thing they all share is a commitment to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries in the region to zero.
Vision Zero is led by a partnership board which includes a wide range of experts from all around the South West including senior police and fire officers, leading clinicians, councillors and the police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Vision Zero’s partners include:
- Cornwall County Council
- Devon County Council
- Plymouth City Council
- Torbay Council
- Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
- Devon and Cornwall Police
- Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
- Highways England
- NHS University Hospitals Plymouth Trust
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
- South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
- Cornwall Air Ambulance
- Devon Air Ambulance
- Driving for Better Business
- Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS)
For more information visit www.visionzerosouthwest.co.uk. You can also follow Vision Zero on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visionzerosw or on Twitter at twitter.com/visionzerosw
For more information about this press release, or about Vision Zero South West, please contact Joel Cooper on joel.cooper@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk