THREE local roads have the dubious distinction of being among 13 identified by West Mercia police as being the most dangerous routes for motorcyclists.

The force is mounting a campaign to make the roads safer during the summer and to step up its enforcement and education blitz in a bid to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed or injured.

The Knights of the Road campaign will run throughout the summer and focus on the 13 force area routes where the majority of crashes involving motorcyclists happened in 2004.

The black-listed routes in this area are the A38 from Upton-on-Severn to Rubery, where ten collisions occurred last year, the A442 Droitwich to Whitchurch road, 12, and the A456 West Hagley to Wooferton road, eight.

The initiative comes as figures show the number of motorcyclists killed are at their lowest level for ten years.

A total of eight motorcyclists died after being involved in a crash in the force area in 2004. In 1995, seven bikers died.

The number of bikers injured in collisions has also been falling steadily since 2000, down 11 per cent from 473 in 2000 to 419 in 2004.

Sergeant John Roberts, from the force operations department, said: "While the figures have improved in recent years, we cannot afford to be complacent. Three people have already been killed while riding motorcycles this year.

"Motorcyclists accounted for only one per cent of the traffic on force roads last year and yet they still accounted for almost one in ten of the people killed.

"We will be paying particular attention to the roads where we know motorcyclists have been killed and injured in previous years."

"We will be targeting motorcyclists who use excessive speed and carry out dangerous manoeuvres risking other people's lives, as well as their own."

Dedicated motorcycle officers and the force helicopter will be used to help tackle the problem.

Officers will also give motorcyclists the chance to improve their skills through the Bikesafe scheme, a national initiative to give bikers the opportunity to have their riding assessed and to learn advanced techniques for safer biking.

More information is available from Sgt Roberts on 01905 331659.