A POLICE biker today insisted that high-powered sports machines were not to blame for the majority of motorcycle accidents.

Backing our Arrive Alive campaign, PC Steve Bushby said accidents were far more likely to occur on smaller bikes.

The Evening Press has relaunched its campaign to highlight the shocking number of motorcycle accidents on North and East Yorkshire's roads.

In the last month, five people have died in accidents involving motorcycles.

But PC Bushby, based at the road traffic group in Tadcaster, said it was wrong to level the blame for any tragedies squarely at the door of riders.

He said: "Motorbike accidents are no more common than car accidents.

"What happens is that motorcycle only accidents are often where riders have overstretched.

"Modern bikes outweigh the skills of bikers, but it is not high speed that causes accidents - it is misuse of speed.

"Most accidents happen at less than the speed limit. It is about conditions being inappropriate for speed.

"Smaller bikes are often more dangerous because they are having to run at full power."

PC Bushby said that it was the lack of protection on a bike which was sometimes be the telling factor.

"Obviously in a car there is some protection. You don't have that on a bike.

"Any injury that you get is highly magnified. But I have been a rider for 33 years and a police rider for 19 years. I think a good bike rider is safer than a good car driver."

Meanwhile, the Motorcycle Industry Association has supported a government TV campaign aimed at slashing rider casualties. The publicity drive, targeting motorcyclists and car drivers, encourages heightened awareness of the others presence.

Updated: 11:45 Saturday, May 04, 2002