A THIRD of people killed or seriously injured on West Country roads this year have been motorcyclists, new police figures have revealed.

Between April and August there were 22 fatalities on the region's roads with a further 237 serious accidents.

Although the overall figures are 10 per cent down on the previous year, new analysis has shown that a third of casualties are motorcyclists.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Netherton said 80 of those killed or seriously hurt had been on two wheels.

Responding to concerns raised by members of Devon and Cornwall Police Authority, he said further analysis was being done to assess the age profile of those involved. Mr Netherton said they continued to use "education and awareness" in a bid to help the motorcycling fraternity.

That included "Bike Safe" courses to help riders understand the risks and how to "protect themselves from other road users", as well as using their own motorcyclists to spread the message.

He added: "We get out there to where they gather and use our own motorcyclists to do that because they have better engagement with them.

"By using them, hopefully the message gets home from someone they respect and from someone who is interested in bikes themselves."

Concerns were raised by authority members about the "disproportionate" number of motorcyclists involved. It is estimated they make up less than five per cent of road users.

Mike Bull, chairman of the police authority, also cautioned against stereotyping who may be involved adding: "There is a public perception sometimes that this is youngsters haring around, too early in their career, on fast, powerful machines."

Concerns have, however, been raised at the force's ability to combat the trend given recent reorganisation and the need to cut jobs. Some 700 officers and up to 500 civilian staff will be lost over the next four years as Devon and Cornwall tries to balance the books with £50 million less funding.

The Police Federation has already aired concerns about the loss of the dedicated road traffic unit and the bike wing, which have been absorbed into the response unit.

Sergeant Nigel Rabbitts, chairman of the federation in Devon and Cornwall, said: "Our members are concerned at the loss of these specialists. Their duty time is no longer 100 per cent dedicated to keeping the roads safe and enforcing traffic law."

He added: "They are now at the behest of the control room to respond to calls for service and while their patrol plans may include the major routes, if they are called to anything they have to leave those roads."