John Measures, Solicitor, 0800 021 3065 or 0115 931 5167
I came across an interesting internet article on this subject by John Measures, who is both an enthusiastic biker and a solicitor. Barratts, where he works, is a firm of East Midlands Solicitors who specialise in personal injury claims for motorcyclists.
A biker who was leading a small group of bikes was prosecuted for speeding, as were his riding mates. They were all caught riding at speeds considerably in excess of the prevailing 60 mph limit, especially the following riders who were riding even faster that the leading bike. In deciding the sentence to impose on the leading rider the Court took into account that as leader he was setting the pace for the group of bikes and by speeding himself when leading a group he had therefore aggravated his own speeding offence. On this basis he was given stiffer punishment than he would otherwise have got.
In his Article John Measures considers the implications for other bikers who act as Group Ride Leaders, for both criminal prosecutions and civil liability.
John makes it clear that there is no need to be panicked into refusing to lead rides; ride leaders are not continues………
