POLICE have stepped up their efforts to reduce motorcycle accidents in East Yorkshire after an increase in deaths last year.
Operation Achilles has been going for almost ten years and has helped reduce casualties.
But, last year, the number of fatalities doubled to four from 2011's figure of two. The number of bikers seriously injured also increased from 36 to 40.
Mick Harris, project manager for Safer Roads Humber, said: "The number of fatalities and injuries has been going down over the past ten years but there was a slight increase last year.
"We are finding an increased number of tourists and commuters involved in accidents, as well as young people on mopeds.
"We need a strategy that copes with all these strands and I think we have that."
Operation Achilles is part of a wider battle to cut down on motorcycle accidents, which also includes Bike Safe, to encourage more training, and Someone's Son, which aims to ensure car drivers are aware of motorcycles.
Ruth Gore, also of Safer Roads Humber, said: "We still have a lot of work to do but I think we are getting the message across.
"We want to make sure everyone looks out for each other.
"With Someone's Son, we are trying to get the message across to car drivers to look out for bikes.
"Equally, we want bikers to ensure they are as visible as possible."
Despite the rise last year, Inspector Mark Hughes insists the combination of enforcement, education and awareness is working. He said: "Since we introduced Operation Achilles, casualties have been dramatically reduced.
"Part of the operation is to catch and prosecute offenders but we also want to educate and encourage rider to ensure they receive training.
"This year, we are continuing to target those riders who ride at ridiculous speeds or in an antisocial manner.
"But these are a minority and we work closely with the motorcycle fraternity."
Nationally, motorcycles make up 1 per cent of all motorised traffic on the roads, but their users account for 39 per cent of all those killed or seriously injured.
In December last year, Operation Achilles was "highly commended" by the Prince Michael International award scheme for road safety.
Humberside Police, supported by Safer Roads Humber, will be using marked and unmarked patrols to enforce road traffic legislation on routes that have a high rate of killed or seriously injured.
Funding has also been provided by East Riding Council to enable officers to use a high-profile, unmarked "camera bike" to capture evidence.
Casualty reduction officer Glen Dennis said: "Motorcycle casualties have been a historical problem in the East Riding.
"Speeding and antisocial riding is a perennial problem and this is what we are tackling this year once more.
"The operation has been a success across the whole of the Humber area.
"The important thing to remember is that his isn't just about enforcement but about education and raising awareness."
Other enforcement tactics, such as highly visible traffic patrols and other unmarked vehicles, will be used on routes that have a high rate of accidents.
This includes rural routes within the East Riding and North Lincolnshire and commuter routes in the Hull.
