Tragic Ian's motorbike to help promote road safety

Ian Entwistles crashed bike will be used to help raise road safety awareness

Experienced rider Ian Entwistle, 34, came off his Suzuki while travelling from Newton to Freckleton.

The aircraft technician had just returned from a two-day superbike riding school and was on his way to his dad’s house along a short, familiar route.

Due to Ian’s position, as he approached a bend, he didn’t see a car indicating to turn right in enough time, and was thrown from his bike as he tried to brake.

He suffered serious head and chest injuries and died at hospital later that day in July 2015.

Ian’s family has allowed Lancashire Police to use his story and lent his beloved bike to officers who will be giving out safety advice at biker events over Easter.

The motorcycle will also be taken on a trailer to the TT races on the Isle of Man in June for further safety awareness.

Sgt Finn Quainton, who attended the collision and works in roads policing, said: “The tragic and needless death of Ian Entwistle has devastated his family and nearly two years on, they want to prevent any other bikers losing their lives in this way.

“Ian was very comfortable around bikes and they were one of his true passions in life.

“He was a very competent rider and this road was well known to him.

“However, familiarity with a route can lead to complacency and just because you think you know the road, doesn’t mean you do.

“Potential hazards are everywhere.

“If Ian had positioned himself towards the centre line of the road on his approach to the bend, he would have had a much earlier view of the car giving him more braking distance and the outcome of the collision might have been different.”

Officers will be at Dick Turpin’s on the A59, Bull Beck picnic site, Caton, Rivington Barn and Devils Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale over the Easter weekend.

Inspector Andy Trotter, Road Policing Unit, said: “Easter marks the start of the biking season.

“By engaging with bikers early on, we hope to educate riders on hazard awareness and rider errors that contribute towards collisions, which include wrong positioning around bends or at junctions and poorly planned overtaking.

“Around a quarter of all collisions that result in death or serious injury in Lancashire involve motorcycles and approximately 60 per cent of all serious collisions involving motorbikes have some contributory factors relating to rider error.”