Highways England traffic officers have issued a safety warning to people planning to visit the British MotoGP over the bank holiday weekend.
Around 120,000 visitors are expected to attend the event and, with a large number of motorcyclists expected, Highways England will be inside Silverstone with partners from the emergency services to promote key safety messages.
These will include a reminder to motorcyclists to make sure they wear the right clothing at all times, even if the sun is shining. The warning comes after 35 percent of those who took part in an online snap poll by Highways England admitted they have left their protective kit off on a sunny day.
Highways England also posed a similar question to motorcyclists at this year’s British Superbike Championships at Silverstone. Almost 200 people were questioned at the event and almost one in five (19 percent) said they wore less protective gear on sunny days.
“Motorcyclists are one of the most vulnerable groups of road users and we are committed to improving the safety on our network for everyone who travels or works on it,” said Highways England Head of Road Safety Richard Leonard. “So we are heading to Silverstone this weekend to take the opportunity to remind motorcyclists, particularly young riders, of the need to wear protective clothing every time they go out on their bike.”
There will also be information about the Stay Safe, Stay Back tailgating campaign and a new motorway safety campaign which highlights the basics of motorway driving, including what to do if you break down, keeping left except when overtaking, and obeying red X and variable speed limit signs.
Visitors to the British MotoGP are advised to plan their journeys in advance and make sure they leave plenty of time for the trip.
The Highways England stand can be found in the Entertainment Zone at Silverstone.
