A TOP police officer has urged road users to stay safe after a number of serious or fatal crashes involving motorcyclists on Dorset’s roads this year.

Inspector Joe Pardey of the traffic unit spoke after four bikers were seriously hurt or killed in January alone. The force has not yet officially verified the figures for February, March or April.

At 4.20pm on March 25, a man in his 50s from Beaminster suffered life-threatening head injuries when his red Kawasaki motorbike was involved in a collision with a Suzuki Jimny on the A35 near Long Bredy near Bridport. His female passenger was also hurt.

On January 22, 21-year-old Khan May was killed when his motorbike was involved in a crash with a van in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth.

An inquest heard he suffered “an extensive fracture of the base of the skull.” The young rider had been in collision with a Ford Transit travelling in the opposite direction.

At 3.05pm on April 19, a biker in his 60s suffered serious injuries on the unclassified road between the Horton Inn and Gussage All Saints. The man was riding a Honda bike which was involved in a crash with a red vehicle which failed to stop.  His pillion passenger - a woman in her 60s – was also seriously injured.  On Easter Sunday, 22-year-old Mark Edward Appleby, who lived in Marnhull, died at the scene of a crash on the A357 at Durweston. It is believed he swerved his Kawasaki motorbike to avoid a deer in the road and collided with a Suzuki Swift.

A Poole man, 40, died on the A31 near Sturminster Marshall on the morning of April 30. His Kawasaki was involved in a collision with a Ford Transit van and a Citroen Relay dropside lorry.

On the same day, a biker in his 80s was seriously injured in a crash with a lorry at the junction of Kings Road and London Road in Dorchester.

Insp Pardey said: “The summer months in Dorset traditionally sees an increase in motorcyclists using the county’s roads. Please be extra vigilant and take the time to check properly. I would like to remind riders to ride responsibly and always consider potential hazards such as queuing traffic, junctions and entrances.”

Dorset BikeSafe runs workshops throughout the riding season from April to September. It offers riders in Dorset the opportunity to have their riding observed by a Police Class 1 motorcyclist. with the aim of identifying areas of risk and helping riders to improve their riding and make them a safer motorcyclist. Visit bikesafe.co.uk/dorset