A campaign to reduce the number of fatal and serious road accidents involving motorcycles has been launched by Kent Police.

The education and enforcement initiative will kick start Kent Police's Safer Summer campaign, as more riders take to the roads as the weather improves.

While only one road user in 100 is a motorcyclist, a quarter of serious road collisions involve riders. A total of 759 motorcyclists were injured in road collisions in Kent and Medway in 2007, 27 of which were killed.

The three main causes of collisions are other road users failing to see the motorcyclist, rider error, and inappropriate speed.

Inspector Alex Jones said: 'Kent Police and its road safety partners want to work with motorcyclists to ensure that they can enjoy riding their bikes safely all year round.

“It is not about spoiling their fun and fining them for speeding. It is about keeping them, and other road users, alive.

“In a concerted push to reduce the number of riders who are killed or hurt, and the trauma their family and friends suffer, Kent Police and its road safety partners will pool their expertise and resources to reduce casualties.”

The police will be giving advice to riders at four major motorcycling events – the May Day Run from London to Hastings, British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, ACE Café Bank Holiday Run to Margate and the BMF Garden of England Motorbike Show at Detling.

Safety cameras will also be set up where motorcyclists have been killed or injured in the past and at sites associated with anti-social or dangerous riding, and the authorities will be targeting irresponsible riders on the roads.

Anti-social riders or dangerous driving by any road user can be reported to police by calling Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111