Police on the scene of a motorcycle crash on the A947 near Oldmeldrum last Friday
Three motorcyclists have been involved in serious accidents in the north-east just days after police put out a safety warning following a spate of other bike crashes.
As the weather improves and tourists arrive, both locals and foreign visitors are likely to boost the number of motorcycles on the roads in the north-east and Highlands.
We cannot put all of the blame on tourists, of course.
The reasons any road accident occurs can be many and are not confined to unfamiliarity with local roads and conditions.
As with any accident involving a vehicle, carelessness, poor judgment and speed are often to blame.
With motorcyclists, other drivers have to be aware of their vulnerability in a crash and the fact that they can often be hidden from view in driver blind spots.
Other drivers often make assumptions about bikers, particularly over going too fast or riding aggressively. That is obviously true, on occasions, but looking through the eyes of riders, they must also see sloppy and dangerous manoeuvres by cars, lorries and buses which put them in danger, too.
“Danger roads” is a familiar phrase, but it is the shortcomings of those who use them who are most to blame.
