First team players from the Leeds Rhinos will join forces with the council’s road safety team this week to drive home an important message to young scooter riders.
Keen scooter riders Scott Donald, Ian Kirke and Simon Worrall, along with experienced biker Keith Senior will take part in training exercises and talk about the importance of wearing protective clothing, which could make the difference in the event of a crash between death or serious injury and walking away.
The council are offering free coaching sessions to young riders to build on the basic training they have already had. The training was developed locally and focuses on observation and anticipation skills, aiming to improve young riders’ skills in dealing with other road users. The riders are also advised on machine care and the benefits of wearing good, protective riding kit.
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Media are invited to the Leeds Rugby training ground at Kirkstall on Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 2.30 to 3.30pm. First team Leeds Rhinos players and road safety officers will be available for filming, photographs and interviews about the importance of encouraging young scooter riders to get training to improve their riding skills and wear the correct kit to protect themselves in the event of an accident.Please contact Claire Macklam on 0113 395 1578 to arrange attendance
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Councillor Stuart Andrew, lead member for transport and travel said:“A lot of young riders seem to think that they will not be killed or seriously injured because their machine is not that powerful or fast, but our statistics show that this is simply not the case. This over-confidence coupled with inexperience of dealing with other road users can lead to avoidable collisions happening, so we want to coach young riders into becoming more responsible road users.”
Scott Donald of the Leeds Rhinos said:“I ride a scooter because they’re cheap to run and dead easy to manoeuvre through traffic - great for short journeys.
“Young riders need to remember that they are vulnerable out there on the roads, and the best way for them to stay safe is to get some extra training and always wear protective clothing.”
ENDS
Additional info
Across Leeds in 2008 there were 22 young riders aged between 16 and 20 killed or seriously injured on machines of less than 125cc.
For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk
