Three biker deaths prompt warning

Three people died and another has serious head injuries

Three motorcyclists have been killed in weekend accidents and one has been injured, prompting warnings about road safety.

Two of the four incidents did not involve other vehicles.

A woman died in Caithness, a crash killed a young man in Aberdeenshire and a man was killed on the M8.

Neil Greig from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said it was a tragic reminder of the need for caution on Scotland's roads.

He said: "In general terms, what seems to be the case is that on rural roads when there are accidents involving motorcyclists it is the rider's fault. They may have been going too fast, or misjudged a corner.

"In our towns and cities it seems to be motorists who are responsible for the accidents."

You're probably going in there a lot quicker than you imagine you are. Just try to act slightly responsibly when you're out there on the roads Harley Stevens Think Academy

Mr Greig, who was attending an IAM conference on safety for motorbike riders, said attitude and skills were the biggest dangers facing riders in rural settings.

He said riders often thought in terms of "challenging the road", but that they did not always have the skills or sufficient training to do so on the big bikes many people are riding.

Mr Greig urged riders to do as many courses as possible, like the police Ridesafe courses or those offered by the IAM.

Harley Stevens is from the Think Academy, which is promoting bike safety at the British Superbikes championships at Knockhill.

He warned bikers not to get carried away: "You have got some fantastic roads in Scotland, beautiful scenery, beautiful tarmac, fantastic roads, but that's not say that there's not something round the side of each corner.

"And you're probably going in there a lot quicker than you imagine you are. Just try to act slightly responsibly when you're out there on the roads."

Michelle Smith, 40, from Ellon in Aberdeenshire was heading north on the A99 at the Hill of Stanes junction when she was killed at 1930 BST on Friday.

Northern Constabulary said no other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Driver injured

Grampian Police say 21-year-old Andy Barron was killed when his orange Kawasaki crashed on the A93 near Dinnet on Friday.

Once again, no other vehicle was involved in the incident which happened at about 2140 BST on Thursday 2 July.

A man died on Saturday night after his motorcycle lost control and hit the central reservation of the M8 shortly before midnight.

The incident which happened near the Shotts interchange, (J5).

And a 19-year-old man is in hospital with serious head injuries after his Red Yamaha Fazer motorcycle was involved in a crash with two cars.

The accident happened on Edinburgh's Niddrie Mains Road at 0150 BST on Sunday morning.