A TWO-WEEK campaign is being launch across the region aimed at motorcycle and pedal cycle safety.

Around 19 per cent of all road deaths in the UK in 2017 were motorcyclists and pedal cyclists accounted for 6 per cent of all road deaths within the same period.

Across Durham and Cleveland, there were six fatal motorcycle crashes in 2018, compared to two in 2017.

The 2 Wheel campaign, led by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC),will begin on Monday and aims to raise awareness and educate road users and riders generally on how to improve driver and rider behaviour.

It ties in with the bank holiday weekend, which is usually a busy time on the roads.

Throughout the campaign there will be operations running across the region involving an unmarked police cyclist, who will be out and about on the roads, identifying drivers passing carelessly or dangerously.

Inspector Jon Curtis, from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, said: “It is the responsibility of all road users to be considerate and drive or ride as safely as possible in order to reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on our roads.

“Motorcyclists and pedal cyclists are some of the most vulnerable on our roads, it is our intention to help educate and raise awareness in order to try to avoid as many tragedies as possible.”