Biker death toll rises

Inexperienced bikers are being urged to take BikeSafe courses

Another motorcyclist has been killed on the roads of north Wales adding to its already high death toll.

A man believed to have been from the south of England died in a collision with a Renault car at Glyndyfrdwy, Denbighshire, on the A5.

It happened at around 1140 BST on Saturday close to the Bryn Teg petrol station.

The incident comes just two weeks after North Wales Police announced they hoped profiling and targeting bikers most likely to be killed on its roads would help tackle the high death toll.

North Wales Police say most bikers killed are likely to be white men aged 35 or over, from the north west of England or the Midlands, who have recently returned to motorcycling.

Last year 18 bikers died in north Wales accidents, the highest recorded total.

Anything you can do to save lives has to be used Mark Tami MP

The total of deaths for this year already stands at four.

This includes the death in January of a 44-year-old motorcyclist on the A55 in Llandudno Junction and of another man in April, killed after colliding with a car on the B5119 Mold Road at Northop, Flintshire.

Last month Chief Superintendent Geraint Annwyl appealed for "born again bikers" to take riding courses and said covert speed enforcement cameras at static sites were being used.

'Bikers' Paradise'

Keen to spread the message, Mr Annwyl was interviewed on BBC Radio Wales, Mr Annwyl has also been on BBC Radio Lancashire and BBC Radio 4 to promote Operation Focus.

He said some male bikers were attracted by motorcycling's "macho" image and travelled in packs where there was evidence they "egged each other on."

Mr Annwyl added: "The majority (of motorcyclists) are law-abiding and responsible people but there is a small minority who are a real menace to both themselves and other road users and endangering the lives of others."

Last year Alyn and Deeside's Labour MP Mark Tami called for warning signs to be erected where accidents had occurred.

Signs have since been placed in north Wales showing the number of deaths last year, but on Sunday Mr Tami called for more to be erected as a warning to others to take care.

He said: "I live very close to the Corwen Road which is used as a 'Bikers' Paradise'.

"There are a lot of right and left bends and there have been a number of serious accidents and fatalities.

"I think anything you can do to save lives has to be used - if that means having more signs then we should do."

North Wales Police have appealed for witnesses following Saturday's incident.