Right Royal Backing For Bikers Safety Initiatives

Motorcycle road safety initiatives in Carmarthenshire received royal recognition from HRH the Prince of Wales as part of the Llandovery Motorbike Weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Prince helped launch the two-day event by starting a parade of bikes around the town; there were also stalls, attractions, bike displays, a motorcycle treasure hunt, fairground rides and show bikes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Road safety officers from the council, Dyfed Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust were there to promote various safety initiatives such as Bikesafe, Dragon Rider Cymru, Biker Down Cymru and the CRASH card scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Prince spoke to the team about the initiatives, which are all designed to help motorcyclists become safer riders, and he praised the officers for their work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other organisations in attendance included the Institute of Advanced Motorists; RoSPA Advanced Drivers and Riders, Motorcycle Action Group; Blood Bikes Wales; and GoSafe Wales Casualty Reduction Partnership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some of the activities which took place included a three-hour Biker Down course, a Dragon Rider taster session, the chance to sign up for a taster session with the IAM, and ride-outs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s executive board member for transport Cllr Hazel Evans said: “Reducing the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on our roads is a key priority for the council and its partner agencies and there is a lot of work underway to educate both motorcyclists and other drivers in relation to safety and driving/riding skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This was a great opportunity to raise awareness on the number of free courses available to motorcyclists in Carmarthenshire; and for HRH the Prince of Wales to hear about the excellent work being carried out.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Llandovery Motorbike Weekend was part of the royal couple’s summer visit to Wales, which included a total of 20 engagements and support for the work of their charities; the Prince’s Trust, the Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, PRIME Cymru and Emmaus UK, which helps homeless people ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​