A NOTORIOUS motorcycle route has been targeted as part of road safety operation after two bikers died in fatal collisions earlier this month.

In a two-pronged approach, mobile police officers carried out roadside checks on the B184 in Leaden Roding, which is a popular route for hundreds of bikers.

They also parked up at Rettendon near to where two motorcyclists died in collisions on consecutive weekends.

During the B184 operation on Sunday September 19, police motorcyclists conducted a pit stop – a way of engaging with motorcyclists who use the route regularly.

Casualty reduction manager Adam Pipe said: “We’re continuously looking to drive down the number of people killed or seriously injured on motorcycles.

“We still have an alarming number of incidents on the roads. In fact we have more motorcycle casualties in the county than the whole of Wales put together.”

In total, 60 bikers were stopped for a chat about road safety and offered the chance to have their riding skills observed by experts.

Bikers were also encouraged to take part in some extra road training on a ‘Bike Safe’ course – a series of workshops designed to enhance rider ability. Six signed up.

Sunday’s operation is just one of the ways Essex Police is working to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads.

During the Rettendon initiative on the same day, officers spoke to residents about concerns surrounding speeding and anti-social road use.

They also took information from any witnesses to the fatal collisions, which happened on Sunday September 5 and Sunday September 12.

In the first crash, James Lawton, 52, from Ingatestone, collided with a silver Chevrolet Matiz on the A1245 at 7.30am. Paramedics tried to revive him but he died at the scene.

A week later, 53-year-old Christopher Tayler, from Romford, died following a collision with a black Ford Focus on the same road at around 3.35pm.

The Focus driver, a 22-year-old man from Wickford, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on bail while officers carry out further enquiries.

Mr Pipe said: “We know from neighbourhood policing that speeding and anti-social use of the road is a concern for many communities. This was an opportunity for residents to stop by and tell us.

“We can then take concerns on board and look at extra speed enforcement.”