Be safe and not ‘SMIDSY’ on Gwent roads

New police motorcycle campaign gets underway with focus on common collisions ahead of the bank holiday weekend and longer summer days.

A new campaign designed to raise awareness of motorcycle collisions while offering safety tips from professional riders has received the green light from Gwent Police.

One in seven (15 per cent) of fatal road traffic collisions on Gwent’s public highways have involved a motorcycle in the last five years.

Many motorcyclists will have heard the common phrase of ‘sorry mate, I didn’t see you’ from other motorists after their vehicles have pulled out in front of them, bringing the rider to a halt rapidly.

These “SMIDSY” incidents are one of the leading causes of motorcycle collisions and the focus of a new campaign as covers come off motorbikes ahead of the spring bank holidays.

Inspector Leighton Healan, from the roads policing and specialist operations (RPSO) unit, said: “This campaign takes a new approach and aims to give motorcyclists tips from the nation’s best riders so they can not only ride safer, but also ride better.

“SMIDSY situations are well known to riders, and sadly a number of these incidents lead to the injury or even death of a rider every year, so knowing how to spot them is the path to being a better rider.

“The Ride Craft Hub has further tips from pro riders to help enjoy those bank holiday runs. We have a guide to perfect cornering and tips on how to read the road like the very best.

“We encourage riders to take a look the tips before dusting off their bike - brushing up on your skills will make for a smoother and more enjoyable ride and keep you safe this spring.”

The national campaign, which forms part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) Project Apex, aims to equip motorcyclists to not only enjoy their holiday rides and but get home safely.  

Nationally, the most recent combined data from the Department for Transport and National Road Traffic Census from 2021 reveals that more than 300 motorcyclists lost their lives and more than 5,000 were seriously injured on Britain’s roads.

The campaign will help riders identify a SMIDSY situation and protect themselves against these collisions, as well as sharing other riding techniques provided by some of the nation’s best riders.

A new Ride Craft Hub website is launching that will curate tips and explainers from pro riders all aimed at helping motorcyclists be better on their bike, and to reduce harm to riders on the road.

To support the campaign, our officers will be engaging with riders over the coming bank holidays and beyond to encourage them to ride smarter and safer as well as carrying out enforcement activity across Gwent.

For more tips on reading the road, click here to watch Inspector Leighton Healan’s video on riding safely during the summer.