A MOTORCYCLIST has vowed to never get on a bike again after being involved in three side-on collisions in the last 18 months.

Ben Newton, 23, from Benfleet, is now urging all drivers to be extra vigilant for motorcyclists and wants to increase motorcycle awareness.

The first crash, in June 2017, was a hit and run leaving Ben in a poor state and needing a number of surgeries.

He said: “All of the times I have been hit have been from the side and when cars have been pulling out of a junction.

“Each time, other than the hit-and-run, the driver stated that they hadn’t seen me.

“I don’t drive fast and I leave plenty of time before I pull out but unfortunately too many drivers don’t seem to look thoroughly enough.

“The hit-and-run left me with a broken tibia, shin, and titanium rods in my legs.”

Echo:

Shockingly, Ben has had another two crashes in the space of two weeks.

The first happened on January 9, at about 2.30pm, as he pulled out of Hart Road, in Benfleet. Luckily he walked away un-harmed but the condition of his Yamaha 125cc motorbike was a different story.

The repairs of the bike amounted to more than the bike was worth - £4,200 - so Ben gave it up.

The third crash - which happened on January 25, at 11.40pm - took place as Ben pulled out of Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, in Rayleigh, onto London Road. It left him with two broken wrists.

The bike, which was a courtesy bike from his insurance company, from the crash two weeks before, was a write-off.

He added: “I was riding back from work and as I pulled out onto the clear road, a car came from nowhere.

Echo:

“I knew it was going to hit as they came round from a left-hand turn and I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to avoid them, despite how hard I tried.

“It’s such a shame as I would love nothing more than riding my bike home after a long day at work.

“It was something that brought me a lot of joy but after this I won’t ever get on a bike again.”

Ben’s mum, Louise, 50, added: “Some of these drivers are just in a bubble.

“Every time Ben has crashed we would get a call from Ben’s phone but it would be someone else talking, and our hearts would just drop. It’s awful for us as parents.”

According to Think!, the government’s designated road safety campaigners, motorcyclists are roughly 52 times more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than car occupants, per mile ridden, and about ten motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured at junctions every day.

The campaign ‘Didn’t See’, plays radio adverts nationwide to remind drivers to take longer to look for bikes at junctions.

For more information on motorcyclist awareness, visit think.gov.uk/campaign/motorcycling/#motorcycling