Police pulling bikers not wearing protective gear

[cjs racing.]

I see on Twitter that a few police forces are pulling bikers, and offering advice as to why it's important.

I always wear protective gear now, but back in '93 I hit a drunk pedestrian who fell into the road, and while wearing a leather jacket, was bare handed, I swear the sadistic nurse enjoyed using a scrubbing brush, and iodine on my hands, but it damn well taught me a lesson.

However, I know my 18 year old self would have reacted badly to being pulled, and "lectured" by the police when it's not law.

Do you think this is a good idea for the police to be doing? And will the type of person not wearing the right gear really change just because of a roadside pull?

[mak]

What a load of bks, they might as well pull people for riding st bikes.

[Martylaa]

Shame the Police feel like they have to do this, there's enough information online and in magazines about what is required when riding a motorbike in the UK, plenty of info on avoiding counterfeit safety clothing and also what to look out for when purchasing gear for motorbikes with regards to reviews and safety labels etc etc.

I'd rather see Police actually doing Police work and if someone comes off a bike wearing inadequate gear and injuries themselves as a result of it then they only have themselves to blame for me.

[talksthetorque]

Martylaa said:

Shame the Police feel like they have to do this, there's enough information online and in magazines about what is required when riding a motorbike in the UK, plenty of info on avoiding counterfeit safety clothing and also what to look out for when purchasing gear for motorbikes with regards to reviews and safety labels etc etc.

I'd rather see Police actually doing Police work and if someone comes off a bike wearing inadequate gear and injuries themselves as a result of it then they only have themselves to blame for me.

Whilst this is being done under public safety information guise, is it maybe a fishing trip to catch naughty people on motorbikes?

Insurance/MOT TWOC etc?

[LosingGrip]

Martylaa said:

I'd rather see Police actually doing Police work and if someone comes off a bike wearing inadequate gear and injuries themselves as a result of it then they only have themselves to blame for me.

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/operations/operational-planning/core-principles/

CoP said:

The police have core operational duties which include:

protecting life and property
preserving order
preventing the commission of offences
bringing offenders to justice.

It could be argued that they are doing their job. Education to protect life.

Each fatal collision costs around £1 million to the tax payer.

Plus it’s amazing at how many people who ride without the proper gear on have other offences as well.

[Caddyshack]

Makes sense, the amount of kids I see with no gloves on….or wallys wearing shorts etc.

[black-k1]

I would rather they were stopping motorcycle theft. It is a personal choice to wear or not wear gear. When they stop smokers in the street then they'll have some high ground from which to preach.

As for the comment above about those riding without gear being guilty of other crimes, that's the same logic that persecutes minorities because "they commit the most crimes". I'd like to think we understand the dangers of such approaches.

[spaximus]

whilst doing this they should also pull over the chumps on scooters. There has been a big increase in kids in A&E with injuries from hitting the road.

Near where I live I have seen today a big mix of young on scooters, mopeds etc in flip flops and shorts, sometime they need protecting from themselves

[cjs racing.]

Caddyshack said:

Makes sense, the amount of kids I see with no gloves on….or wallys wearing shorts etc.

Pulling people wearing shorts and T shirts, I get.

Pulling people wearing leather jacket, fingerless gloves, and jeans, not so sure I agree.

[105.4]

That’s odd, because around here the local Police completely ignore the local aspiring footballers riding around wearing baraclavas, carrying machetes or hammers, two or three-up on bikes with no lights, no plates, and often on the pavement or the wrong side of the road.

I guess it’s just easier to go for the low hanging fruit.

[Martylaa]

LosingGrip said:

It could be argued that they are doing their job. Education to protect life.

Each fatal collision costs around £1 million to the tax payer.

Plus it’s amazing at how many people who ride without the proper gear on have other offences as well.

I'm can see your point but I'd rather see Police as keepers of order and preventing crime rather than teachers on the side of the road pulling in motorists and lecturing someone on a bike who can read and make their own decisions in life regarding keeping themselves safe, the bike rider should be aware of their own consequnces.

[Zarco]

105.4 said:

That’s odd, because around here the local Police completely ignore the local aspiring footballers riding around wearing baraclavas, carrying machetes or hammers, two or three-up on bikes with no lights, no plates, and often on the pavement or the wrong side of the road.

I guess it’s just easier to go for the low hanging fruit.

Same in Reading

[Glosphil]

LosingGrip said:

It could be argued that they are doing their job. Education to protect life.

Each fatal collision costs around £1 million to the tax payer.

Plus it’s amazing at how many people who ride without the proper gear on have other offences as well.

That £1M includes a number of costs not borne by the tax payer.

[105.4]

Zarco said:

105.4 said:

That’s odd, because around here the local Police completely ignore the local aspiring footballers riding around wearing baraclavas, carrying machetes or hammers, two or three-up on bikes with no lights, no plates, and often on the pavement or the wrong side of the road.

I guess it’s just easier to go for the low hanging fruit.

Same in Reading

I was thinking it was just a Derbyshire / South Yorkshire thing.

[Dr Jekyll]

LosingGrip said:

Martylaa said:

I'd rather see Police actually doing Police work and if someone comes off a bike wearing inadequate gear and injuries themselves as a result of it then they only have themselves to blame for me.

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/operations/operational-planning/core-principles/

CoP said:

The police have core operational duties which include:

protecting life and property
preserving order
preventing the commission of offences
bringing offenders to justice.

It could be argued that they are doing their job. Education to protect life.

Each fatal collision costs around £1 million to the tax payer.

Plus it’s amazing at how many people who ride without the proper gear on have other offences as well.

No it doesn't. Each fatality costs around £1000 to the taxpayer. The remainder of the claimed cost is lost output and 'human cost', IE pain etc.
.
Reduce the fatality to a serious injury and the cost goes up to around £14,000 on average.

[Caddyshack]

Dr Jekyll said:

LosingGrip said:

Martylaa said:

I'd rather see Police actually doing Police work and if someone comes off a bike wearing inadequate gear and injuries themselves as a result of it then they only have themselves to blame for me.

https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/operations/operational-planning/core-principles/

CoP said:

The police have core operational duties which include:

protecting life and property
preserving order
preventing the commission of offences
bringing offenders to justice.

It could be argued that they are doing their job. Education to protect life.

Each fatal collision costs around £1 million to the tax payer.

Plus it’s amazing at how many people who ride without the proper gear on have other offences as well.

No it doesn't. Each fatality costs around £1000 to the taxpayer. The remainder of the claimed cost is lost output and 'human cost', IE pain etc.
.
Reduce the fatality to a serious injury and the cost goes up to around £14,000 on average.

£1000? I think you are not including the cost of police investigating the accident, ambulance, helicopter, Dr to try and save the deceased etc…I get they would be working that day anyway but we would need less of them if people were not hurt or killed as often.

[Caddyshack]

cjs racing. said:

Caddyshack said:

Makes sense, the amount of kids I see with no gloves on….or wallys wearing shorts etc.

Pulling people wearing shorts and T shirts, I get.

Pulling people wearing leather jacket, fingerless gloves, and jeans, not so sure I agree.

Without seeing who they are pulling over we don’t know if they would pull someone in jeans and a leather jacket…possibly not?

I know I wouldn’t want my child going out on a bike in jeans and fingerless gloves. It was boiling this weekend but I still put on all the gear when I went out but I am scared of the pain.

[cjs racing.]

Caddyshack said:

Without seeing who they are pulling over we don’t know if they would pull someone in jeans and a leather jacket…possibly not?

Will try and find the Tweet, it was pulling 2 guys wearing exactly that that prompted my post.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Yep, that £1k number is bullsh*t.

[LosingGrip]

Cost to tax payer may have been the wrong wording, however £1,000 is not right at all.

Last fatal I went to just the response officers who attended (five of us) cost that in wages alone. We were only there for six hours or so.