POLICE in East Yorkshire are using video cameras during a motorcycle safety campaign to help catch careless and dangerous riders.

Humberside Police have re-launched their annual summer safety drive in a bid to reduce the number of motorcyclists injured or killed on the regions’ roads.

It comes as figures show seven motorcyclists have been injured on East Yorkshire’s roads so far this year.

During the campaign, the East Riding Roads Policing Team will be patrolling the popular riding routes, which attract motorcyclists over the summer months, using an unmarked motorcycle.

The Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle is fitted with tiny video recording cameras and average speed detection equipment to help them catch careless and dangerous drivers. Its role is to capture evidence on film and then when the offender is stopped he or she is able to view the footage on a monitor.

The offender is then either prosecuted if serious offences are revealed, or sent on a RIDE diversion scheme if the offences are of a more minor nature.

The campaign was launched at the weekend – and eight offenders were caught on Sunday.

Simon Carlisle, casualty reduction officer for East Yorkshire said: “Out of the 77 people injured as a result of road traffic collisions so far this year, seven have been riders of motorcycles, representing nearly ten per cent.

“This is still a concern given that motorcycles only represent two percent of traffic on our roads.

“Another problem is antisocial riding and harassment by motorcyclists.

“On Sunday I saw a number of vehicles on the A614 moving onto the verge to allow motorcycles to pass as they were following far too close to be safe.

“I saw another motorcyclist make an inappropriate gesture to a car driver as he did not bow down to this bullying and remained in a safe position on the road.

“We receive weekly complaints from motorists in relation to this type of behaviour.

“These riders are giving a bad name to those law-abiding riders that enjoy our roads safely.

“It should be remembered by these riders that this is not only an offence of careless driving under the Road Traffic Act, but also an offence of causing alarm, harassment or distress under the Public Order Act.

“They may also have their vehicle seized under the Police Reform Act.

“Officers will not tolerate this sort of behaviour, and will be patrolling on the unmarked motorcycle and in unmarked cars to detect and deal with these offences.”