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Bikers told to get on their bikes and attend free film night

Road Safety Grampian is inviting bikers from across the area to the screening of a critically acclaimed motorbike film as part of a road safety campaign on Tuesday, September 27 from 8pm at the Belmont Picturehouse in Aberdeen.

“Closer to the Edge” documents the journey of entrants to the world-famous TT motorcycle race that takes place on the Isle of Man every year and sees expert riders tackle a dangerous and thrilling course.

The event will mark the end of this year’s Operation Zenith motorcycle safety campaign and provide bikers with the opportunity to speak to a range of experts and learn more about ways in which they can increase their safety on the road.

Head of Road Policing at Grampian Police Chief Inspector Ian Wallace said: “The purpose of the free film night is to thank bikers for their continued support with the campaign and heeding our safe riding messages.

“We've seen reduced casualty levels involving motorcycles over the course of the campaign to date and are keen to see the downward trend continuing.

“At the same time, we see this as another great opportunity to get bikers together and make them aware of some of the opportunities available to help improve their road safety and rider skills, such as through advanced riding courses.

“I’m sure it will be an excellent, enjoyable night for all, so if you are interested get on your bike and come see it!”

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee Councillor Peter Argyle said: “Last year’s Operation Zenith campaign was a great success with an overall 22% reduction in collision levels involving motorcyclists and this year’s campaign is on track to reduce this further.

“This has been achieved through a multi-pronged approach based on encouragement, education, enforcement and engineering. We want people to enjoy the freedom of our roads but we want them to do so responsibly.”

“To date, Operation Zenith has shown that road safety levels can be raised by engaging with bikers and other road users to give advice on how to improve riding standards.

"Our focus is to influence rider behaviour and make them as safe as possible. There should be no doubt – the police will enforce the law when they need to and anyone riding inappropriately will be brought to justice.

“Our experience has been that the majority of bikers have been very engaged by the events we have held and the film night is another way of doing this in a relaxed, enjoyable setting.”

Operation Zenith aims to educate motorcyclists by actively targeting behaviours and related offences which are linked to road traffic casualties, and earlier this year was recognised at the Scottish Transport Awards in the category of Best Transport Team/Partnership of the Year.

Tough-talking radio adverts, targeted enforcement, ‘bikesafe’ training courses and new motorcycle signs are just a few of the measures that have been used in recent months to hammer home the campaign’s safe riding message.

A road safety open day encouraging bikers to have a ‘Safer September’ was also held at Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House headquarters in August and attended by approximately 400 bikers.

To book your free tickets for the film night, phone the Belmont ticket office on 0871 704 2051 and quote ‘Zenith’.

Tickets will be limited to two per person and reserved on a first come first served basis.

For more information about Operation Zenith, visit www.grampian.police.uk/operationzenith

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