Remote route bike crash campaign
Many accidents occur on remote rural roads
Remote roads in the Borders are being targeted as part of a campaign to cut the number of motorbiking deaths.
Lothian and Borders Police say recent figures show the rate of fatal and serious road crashes involving bikers in their area is still "alarming".
That is despite a successful campaign last year which cut the number of casualties in half.
Special focus is on the Borders where police say riders mistakenly believe there is little or no law enforcement.
The campaign started on 15 May and will run until 1 October.
Police will be encouraging safe driving as well as attention to road traffic laws and road conditions.
The campaign also aims to highlight to riders their skills and abilities when handling a powerful motorcycle.
Don't put your own life, or that of others, at risk, just because you think that there are no speed cameras on the country roads
Insp Colin Shillito
In line with national targets, it is the force's goal to halve the number of fatal accidents and reduce serious injury crashes by a third.
Since April 2001 there have been more than 1281 motorcycle crashes in the Lothian and Borders area, 315 involving serious injury and 29 with loss of life.
The majority of these crashes were directly linked to illegal or dangerous driving.
'Full throttle'
Police motorcyclists will carry out high-visibility patrols on roads which have seen most casualties and on popular motorcycle routes.
Inspector Colin Shillito, of Lothian and Borders Road Policing Unit, said: "It is a mistake to think that rural roads are any less dangerous than city roads, and that it's acceptable to ride motorcycles or drive full throttle along them.
"The majority of road crashes involving bikes happen on these rural roads, which are often very windy, bumpy and have many blind bends.
"Don't put your own life, or that of others, at risk, just because you think that there are no speed cameras on the country roads."
