North Wales's open roads attract motorcyclists

There were also 48 motorcyclists seriously injured while 151 suffered slight injuries.

The most common factors involved in the accidents were excess speed, left hand bends and high-powered sports bikes.

The age of those involved in most accidents was between 25 to 45 and the accidents occurred mostly at weekends, said the police.

The majority of accidents happened on open roads and usually involved no other vehicle.

The man behind the safety scheme, Chief Inspector Gareth Pritchard, said he hoped the campaign would reach older riders.

He said some riders in their 30s and 40s were buying powerful new bikes after not having ridden one for 10 for 20 years.

This sort of rider is drawn to the open roads of north Wales, he said.

In the past bikers have been able to give police cars the slip, so as part of the new campaign the North Wales Police helicopter will be used to track the worst offenders, said Chief Inspector Pritchard.