Pillion death in spate of crashes

Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury than car users

A pillion passenger has been killed in Flintshire, the latest in a spate of crashes across Wales in recent days.

The woman died near the A494 and A55 junction at Ewloe on Sunday, while two motorcyclists were injured in separate incidents in south Wales on Sunday.

These crashes followed the deaths of motorcyclists in both the Wrexham and Caerphilly areas in the past week.

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has called for better education, road improvements and police initiatives.

A woman received leg injuries in the first crash on Sunday involving two motorbikes travelling on the M4 towards Pencoed in Bridgend.

South Wales Police said a rider was thrown over the central crash barrier after overtaking a vehicle and losing control.

Officers said the motorcycle then collided with the second motorcycle, at around 0940 BST.

Because you haven't got protection around you on a motorbike you are much more vulnerable to serious injury or even death David Short, Motorcycle Action Group

Later that day, a 26-year-old motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries after a collision with a Jaguar car on the A468 at Rhiwderin, Newport.

The road - known as Machen Straits - was closed for the second time in nine days for a motorcycle crash.

On 12 October, a 46-year-old woman from Risca was killed and another motorcyclist injured after a collision involving three bikes and car.

The incidents happened as Gwent Police was concluding Operation Pegasus, a drive to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured on the roads.

It involved education and a reinforcement clamp-down, with officers stopping 551 motorcyclists and targeting well-known meeting places.

Sgt Mark Smith who led the operation said: "Many of the routes favoured by riders from all over the UK are in the Gwent area."

After Sunday's fatal crash in Flintshire, the A55 was closed in both directions until after midnight on Monday.

Pillion passenger Pamela Singleton-Clarke, 40, came from the Ellesmere Port area.

The motorcyclist was also taken to hospital after the crash at 1815 BST.

Last Wednesday, a 41-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a collision with a taxi at Rhos near Wrexham.

David Short, campaigns manager for MAG, who began the national Bike Safe scheme in his former role as chief superintendent in north Yorkshire, said each of the fatal incidents was a personal tragedy.

"They have a huge knock-on effect to the people who are left behind," he said.

"The sad thing here is motorcycles are vulnerable.

"Because you haven't got protection around you on a motorbike you are much more vulnerable to serious injury or even death."

However, as a keen motorcyclist, Mr Short said bikes could give a "fantastic sense of freedom".

"Enjoy motorcycles for the wonderful means of transport that they are.

"They are not race machines to be raced on roads."

In 2005 there were 694 motorcycle casualties in Wales, and 539 in 2006, according to figures from Gwent Police.