Motorcyclists and car drivers are being urged to be extra vigilant on roads across Hampshire following the sixth fatal collision involving a motorbike during the hot spell.
Bikers have been warned not to dress light despite the hot weather but ensure they are wearing the right protective clothing at all times – including leathers where possible, high visibility tabards, appropriate boots and footwear.
Car drivers have been urged to “Think Bike”, and be extra conscious of motorbikes and cyclists on the road during this busy period when bright light can make visibility difficult.
Chief Inspector Andy Bottomley, who leads the Roads Policing Unit in Hampshire said: “Tragically, over the course of the last week, six motorcyclists have lost their life on our roads. This high number is, thankfully, very unusual, and it is important to note that the cause of each of them is still subject to investigation.
“However, the one common denominator of all of these collisions is that they occurred during this current fine weather. During this past week, people have been getting out more on the roads, traffic has been increasing.
“This advice is very simple and shouldn’t need repeating, but we need to do everything we can to stop these fatal collisions happening and protect our road users.
Police had extra patrols on the roads of Hampshire during the weekend in a bid to cut the number of fatal crashes.
On Friday evening, two motorcyclists died in separate collisions in the county, bringing the total to six.
At around 3pm, a 24-year-old man died when his Honda motorbike was in collision with a Skoda Fabia at Fair Oak; and just after 4.20pm, another 24-year-old rider was killed when his Honda motorbike was in collision with a Ford flat-bed truck at Lopcombe Corner at the junction Hollom Down Road near Stockbridge.
The other fatal collisions involving motorcycles over the past week took place at Rownhams, Oakhanger, New Forest, and on the A31 at Alton. There have also been two other fatal road traffic collisions during this period.
Detailed safety advice for motorcyclists and drivers is viewable on the Think road safety campaign website.