A NO ideas barred approach has paid dividends for police aiming to cut back on crashes on a notorious motorcycle route. Since helicopter speed check signs started appearing on the B184 between Great Dunmow and Aythorpe Roding back in August 2008, crashe

A 'NO ideas barred' approach has paid dividends for police aiming to cut back on crashes on a notorious motorcycle route.

Since helicopter speed check signs started appearing on the B184 between Great Dunmow and Aythorpe Roding back in August 2008, crashes have decreased.

However, police say that there will be no complacency after the first motorcycle crash this year injured a 30-year-old man outside the Axe and Compass pub in Aythorpe Roding. The collision happened on July 5.

Inspector Justin Smith from Dunmow's road policing unit said: "The helicopter signs were just one visible message given to riders. We have taken a number of other steps to reduce accidents including our 'Pit Stops' inviting riders in for a cup of tea and chat about riding to the next level.

"We have also gone into schools to educate younger people about the dangers, so it is a lot of aspects all coming together."

Insp Smith added that officers are not going to relax because the low figures meant that any further crashes will produce a blip in the figures - something police are keen to avoid.

"We will not be complacent," he said. "We welcome any new and innovative ideas from officers, the council and from the public. It really is no ideas barred.

"We are doing better than the rest of the county which has seen an upturn in the last month so it is good news. We will take pride in our work but we will not sit back."

According to Essex County Council figures, between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 there were two fatal crashes, four serious collisions and five slight collisions on the B184, including all vehicles. This year there has been three minor incidents.

A council spokesman said: "Our engineers have looked at the B184 because it is well used by motorcycles and has a history of collisions.

"In 2008 there were two serious collisions and one slight collision involving motorcyclists. Up until the start of July there have been a total of three slight collisions, none of which involved motorcyclists."

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