A word of warning to anyone thinking of riding in North Wales The Police seem to be having a major crack down mostly with the camera vans, 4 seen on a ride on saturday The A5 is being blitzed as is A470 and Bala area and they are using new and often semi hidden spots. 30 and 40 limits right where the limit changes (fair game IMHO) but increasingly long straights and open fast sections where its very easy to lose your licence. Be warned these cameras can often see way farther than you can and look remarkably like camper vans etc in Snowdonia lay by's. It was only a matter of time that the bad old 'Brunstrum' days of policing would return, apparently due to the number of bike related deaths and serious incedents recently. OK some are due to rider stupidity but half of the deaths I'm aware of were due to drivers doing 'stupid touristy numptyness' Still fast bikes and tourists looking at the view dont mix and with shortened daylight we are forced to share the roads at the same time. If you must speed reccy the route first and go out as early as poss Don't be an easy target for the scamera vans and please don't become another statistic.
Good post - the figures are showing a huge % increase in fatalities and serious accidents so it is an understandable reaction to try and address the problem - BBC News - Big rise in fatal motorbike crashes in north and mid Wales Above article good reading and mentions bike safe as an additional way to try and control problem - as you say fast bikes and tourists dont really mix that well
I'm glad that the new cheif officer Mr Polin recognises that many of the incidents are due to other drivers but wait with baited breath as to how they will police it. I fully understand that their resources are well stretched but would like to see motorists who park part on the carriage way on double whites, photo stops and 3 point turns on blind bends and total lack of mirror use when pulling over or to overtake penalised in the same way that speeding is. Certainly the first 3 could be proven by a simple picture same as speeding. Large coaches are also totally unsuitable for narrow twisty walled roads such as the Llanberis pass and killed an elderly biker due to the overswing of the front end last october. I sincerely hope that the police are considering such matters and not just the cash cow that is the speed van........surely its not that hard to use the vans to catch other offences.
I have to apologise guys as I've added to those figures this year and the increase in policing in our area. However my accident was caused by excessive gravel where it shouldn't be, watch out council the solicitors are coming ;-)
Been to Bala today and a van was parked on the side road where you go left for the lake just before the start of the town ( shops) seems to have a very large lens poking out the rear window this must have a massive range and like the dude says picking off cars where a 40 reduces to a 30 zone.
