HAMPSHIRE Constabulary has backed a week-long campaign to make roads safer for motorcyclists.

Just one extra look could save a life. That was the message from Hampshire Constabulary’s roads policing officers last week as they reminded motorists and motorcyclists to look out for each other and help make the county’s roads safer.

The force supported the latest week-long national campaign led by the National Police Chiefs Council to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed on our roads.

It ran from August 28 to September 3.

Officers from the joint operations unit, which covers Hampshire and Thames Valley, were urging motorcyclists not to take unnecessary risks and drivers to take that extra look at junctions in the hope of making the roads safer for everyone.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight nine motorcyclists were killed and 259 were seriously injured during 2015.

And between November 2013 and October 2015, 11 per cent of all casualties injured on roads in Hampshire and Thames Valley were moped or motorcycle riders or pillion passengers.

During the last week of action in April, police stopped 94 motorcyclists, 27 on bikes up to 125cc and 67 on bikes more than 125cc.

Officers stopped 15 for speeding, nine for careless/inconsiderate riding and seven for construction and use offences.

Out of all those spoken to, 12 were as a result of a collision.

Of those stopped 73 were given advice on safer riding, 12 were issued with fixed penalty notices, four were reported for summons and five were offered courses.

Hampshire Police spokesman Rob Heard said: “Riders need to make sure they are visible to all and ride appropriately to the conditions.

“Many collisions with motorcycles occur at junctions and we all need to make sure we look at for approaching motorcycles which may merge into the back ground as they approach.

“Give your self extra time to look out for motorcycles. Riders also need to make sure they ride safely and not take unnecessary risks.

“We are asking riders and motorists to look out for each other and be considerate towards each other.

“We are reminding people to ‘Think Bike’ and ‘Bike Think’.”

Motorcyclists are also urged to watch two ‘Go-Pro’ urban rider videos shot from a motorcyclist’s perspective.

The short films are aimed at improving rider behaviour, improve road safety and contribute to a reduction in the number of killed and seriously injured motorcyclist casualties.

Motorcycle users remain the road user group with the highest rate of collisions and casualties per mile travelled.