Biking schemes are being introduced to encourage motorcyclists to take care while riding on the roads.

The schemes that have been established also aim to protect bike insurance policyholders on the roads and have been highly commended and have received awards at a recent ceremony.

Durham County Council and Durham Constabulary's Bikewise programme has been named one of the top initiatives by the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards (PMRSA), in terms of its work to keep riders safe.

The scheme covers all types of riders, ranging from those aged six-year-olds and upwards, and for special mini-moto initiative for youngsters. There is also a ladies course to help women develop their skills and confidence on two-wheels.

Meanwhile, the council itself utilises engineering solutions such as approved barriers and lighting columns.

Staffordshire County Council Road Safety Unit's Motorcycle Casualty Reduction Scheme has also been recognised under the awards for its multi-pronged approach to rider safety.

Schemes for safety

The council runs its own BikeSafe scheme that carried out more than 500 assessments last year and hosts awareness days across the county providing advice.

It also has its own Ride It Right scheme, which has introduced signs warning bikers of hazardous roads and providing leaflets bearing advisory tips that could help riders avoid bike insurance claims.

On signed roads, causalities were reduced by more than a third in the first year of the scheme, rising by a further five per cent in the second year.

The PMRSA are handed out annually to organisations that are shown to have enhanced road safety in the UK.

Additionally, a special road safety initiative that could help motorcyclists avoid bike insurance claims has won an award for its work in protecting riders.

The Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) Sponsored award has been given to Grip Top - a product that offers increased levels of grip and durability when placed over access covers and gratings, while also reducing the chance of a biker skidding on the road surface.

Grip on the road

According to the MCI, motorcyclists are vulnerable to loss of control when riding, which usually occurs when the amount of available grip changes suddenly.

Adopting the Grip Top material at locations when risk is increased - such as at roundabouts, bends and traffic lights - could help offset the disadvantage faced by two-wheelers, the group suggests.

The accolade is part of the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards (PMRSA), which are given every year to groups that have improved road safety in Britain.

Karen Cooke, the director of safety at the MCI, said: "The winner of this year's PMRSA for motorcycling stands out because it can easily be adopted on a national basis and not only does it help motorcyclists but it is good for all road users, which is an impressive quality."

However bike riders have also been advised to make sure that their motorbikes are safe for riding, especially during the winter. A new heat treatment for motorcycle wheels could see bike insurance policyholders extend the life of their tyres.

Black Frequency technology, developed by Tyre Technology, is a new system that heats tyres, allowing them to cool and cure afterwards, locking bonds together and ensuring optimum performance.

Scrubbing tyres

The process derives from the scrubbing technique used in motorsport, in which wheels run for a couple of laps to warm up, then left to cool and cure to enhance dynamism, grip, lap times and tyre life on race days.

Stuart Hepworth, the founder and managing director of Black Frequency technology, said: "No matter how sophisticated a performance tyre is, when it comes out of the mould its molecular structure is never perfect."

He also said: "By using a specialised heat treatment, Black Frequency enables the microscopic, spaghetti-like molecular bonds to expand and join together."

Bike insurance policyholders can chose the treatment for their own wheels at a cost of £15 per wheel. The process lasts for 25 minutes and tyres are left to cure for three days after cooling.

Earlier in the year, TyreSafe urged motorists to check the safety of their wheels using a 20p coin to see whether tread depth is at a legal level.