AVON and Somerset Police is urging all road users to play their part in protecting motorcyclists and other two-wheeled road users this summer.

A national campaign is renewing the focus on reducing the number of riders killed or seriously injured on the region’s roads.

Throughout June, officers will be carrying out proactive engagement and enforcement activity as part of Operation Apex.

Motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users, making up just one to two per cent of road users but accounting for nearly a quarter of fatal and serious injury collisions in the UK.

In Avon and Somerset, 39 per cent of fatal or serious injury collisions in 2025 involved powered two wheelers, including motorcycles, e-scooters, Sur-Rons, and electric bikes.

There have been 46 motorcyclist fatalities in the force area since 2022.

As the weather improves and more riders take to the roads, police are reminding all road users that preventing collisions is a shared responsibility.

While some incidents involve excessive speed, loss of control, or risky overtakes, many serious collisions happen because riders are simply not seen by other drivers, particularly at junctions, during overtaking manoeuvres, or when drivers are distracted.

Throughout June, officers from the roads policing unit, neighbourhood policing teams, and speed enforcement unit will be carrying out activity including patrols of high-risk routes and rural roads, engagement with riders around safer riding and road positioning, enforcement targeting dangerous or careless driving behaviours and advice, and education for both riders and drivers.

Roads policing inspector Matt Boiles said: “Motorcyclists and other two-wheel users remain some of the most vulnerable people on our roads and the consequences when things go wrong can be devastating.

“We know many riders are highly skilled and safety conscious, but even the most experienced rider is vulnerable if they are not seen by other road users.

“This campaign is about supporting riders to stay safe while also reminding drivers of the importance of looking properly, improving hazard perception, and recognising the presence of motorcycles on our roads.

“Every road user has a role to play in preventing harm.”

As part of the campaign, Avon and Somerset Police is also encouraging riders to sign up for ‘Raise Your Ride’, a course delivered by police-trained advanced riders in partnership with Somerset Road Safety.

The scheme is designed to help riders build confidence, sharpen road awareness, and develop advanced riding techniques in real-world environments.

Bespoke sessions are available for groups of two or more riders at mutually convenient dates and times, as well as individual rider assessments.

Drivers are also being reminded to take simple steps to help protect vulnerable road users, including looking twice for motorcycles at junctions, leaving at least five feet of space when overtaking cyclists or motorbikes, double-checking mirrors and blind spots, especially before turning or pulling out, and using the ‘Dutch Reach’ method when opening your car door to avoid ‘dooring’ incidents.

Riders interested in developing their skills can email [email protected] for more information or go to https://somersetroadsafety.org/motorcyclists/raise-your-ride.