Danger roads and what should be done about them?

Danger roads and what should be done about them: should the local authorities do more when there are danger roads that see more motorcycle accidents than most?

It’s not uncommon for local residents to lobby to their councils when there is a particular stretch of the highway that is subject to more accidents, and things sometimes can – and are – done about them.

That being said, with motorcycle accidents being more common anyway, do we need to look more closely at trends when it comes to danger roads specifically for bikers?

What made me consider this was a story in Leeds yesterday about a boy on a bicycle being struck by a car with ten minutes of a man riding a motorbike who was also struck by a different car. Although no one was seriously hurt in these incidents, it got me thinking about the many times I have travelled somewhere and seen an area that I would considerer to potentially be a “danger road” of sorts.

It can’t be easy to spot these kinds of danger road trends unless there is a huge spate of accidents that are undeniably linked to a similar problem. There is also the unfortunate fact of life that motorbike riders are more susceptible to being the victim of an accident as a result of drivers simply not looking out for them enough.

“Sorry mate, I didn’t see ya!” is not a viable defence, but it happens all too often.

Can we practically resolve all incidents of danger roads, and is there anything that can be done about them when the danger is perhaps solely to motorbike riders opposed to all road users? Surely, there is data to be monitored and trends to be analysed, although it would be nice if drivers were more capable of simply paying the due care and attention they need to for bikers in the first place.

Motorbike riders are often seriously hurt after accidents, so this is an important discussion point.