THERE was a time when motorcyclists would ride their bikes without wearing a helmet. Today that is seen to be unimaginably dangerous, but there are other pitfalls, some of which are less obvious and Inspector Dave Mangan of North Yorkshire Police has launched a campaign to make riders aware of one of them; namely tiredness.

No one would set out on a long journey feeling fatigued, but it does creep up on you and that is the real danger. As Dave says, bikers making a long journey can lose concentration towards the end of the trip which can lead to errors of judgment with potentially serious consequences.

Therefore we think this is a very worthwhile campaign. Motorcyclists are already among the most vulnerable road users. Anything that helps to increase their safety should be welcomed.