Kent Fire And rescue April Show
Enjoy your bike, be cool, stay safe...
In April, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) hosted its own Sports and Custom Bike Show – a one stop shop which featured trade stands, custom bikes, clothing, a prize draw, after market products, first aid guidance, vehicle maintenance, skills advice and a stunt show by Moto Stunts International which wowed the crowds.
The event attracted over 3000 people and was supported by partner agencies - Kent County Council (KCC), Kent Police, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and the Wind and Fire Motorcycle club. Whilst fun was had by all, the foundations of the show have a more serious note.
Sadly, bikers make up only one percent of motorists but account for a staggering 25 percent of those killed and seriously injured on Kent’s roads. In the last two years, KFRS attended 170 road traffic collisions involving motorcycles, mopeds and scooters where riders were trapped, seriously injured or killed.
We want you to enjoy your bike; we don’t want to be picking you up off the road so that means being in control and taking responsibility for the way you ride. Every year, motorbikes become faster, lighter and sharper so it makes sense that you, as the rider, need to be sharper too. By developing your skills and putting the emphasis on yourself to avoid unsafe situations you can enjoy your bike to the max giving yourself a better chance of staying alive. KFRS offers advice on how to stay ahead of your game and encourages riders to take up skills sessions offered by Kent Police (Bikesafe) and the IAM (Skills For Life).
As well as our own show, we’re out and about at events all over the county with the Fire Bike Pitstop including BSB at BrandsHatch, the May Day Run, Margate Meltdown and GEMS, as well as dealership open days and school and college events. This is made up of a dedicated team of firefighters who are all Police Standard rider trained and experienced riders with genuine enthusiasm and their Honda CBR1000RR ABS Fireblade superbike.
It’s an area where you can stop and talk to the team and get good advice on keeping your bike and yourself fit for the road, including information on basic motorcycle maintenance and how you can further advance your riding skills.