[13 June 2007]

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service launches the FIREBIKE.

Emergency services deal with the aftermath of road traffic collisions and the impact they have on human life, on a daily basis. The Fire & Rescue Service is now called to deal with more death and injury from road traffic collisions than from fires. It is only right, therefore, that we direct resources towards trying to prevent such incidents.

Group Manager, Neal Robinson stated, “Last year 22 motorcyclists lost their lives on Sussex roads, and we as a Fire and Rescue Service have attended over 80 incidents involving motorcycles in the last 2 years. We are working closely with our partners to bring that down this year”.

A FIREBIKE has been introduced as a result of sponsorship and partnership working with J.S.Gedge motorcycles. A marked up Honda Fireblade CBR1000R will be used to engage with sports motorcyclists, specifically those between 35 and 45 years, which statistics highlight as the group most at risk. The bike will be ridden to motorcycle events, roadside cafes and bike runs. A representative from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will be able to talk to motorcyclists about safety issues and the consequences of some of the incidents they´ve witnessed, particularly as a very high proportion of these accidents are attributed to rider error. This work will be in partnership with Sussex Police who have an identical bike to reinforce educational messages and make people aware of the Bikesafe initiative.

[Allison Gilson]