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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Safety plea follows bike deaths | Safety plea follows bike deaths |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Motorcycle road racing legend Philip McCallan has issued a plea to road users after four motorcylists were killed on NI's roads in three days. | Motorcycle road racing legend Philip McCallan has issued a plea to road users after four motorcylists were killed on NI's roads in three days. |
| The latest victim died on the outskirts of Newry. His bike was in collision with a van on the city's by-pass shortly before 1000 BST on Monday. | The latest victim died on the outskirts of Newry. His bike was in collision with a van on the city's by-pass shortly before 1000 BST on Monday. |
| Mr McCallan said motorcyclists had to slow down, but also said motorists had to show consideration for bikers. | Mr McCallan said motorcyclists had to slow down, but also said motorists had to show consideration for bikers. |
| "Overall as a society we've all got to work to make it better," he said. | "Overall as a society we've all got to work to make it better," he said. |
| "Motorcycles are a terrible thing, they're like a drug - we get addicted to them and get an adrenaline rush that nothing else does. | "Motorcycles are a terrible thing, they're like a drug - we get addicted to them and get an adrenaline rush that nothing else does. |
| "We as motorcyclists have just got to learn to control that better," the former road racer said. | "We as motorcyclists have just got to learn to control that better," the former road racer said. |
| Mr McCallan, from County Armagh, is third in the list of all-time Isle of Man TT winners, with 11 race victories to his name. | Mr McCallan, from County Armagh, is third in the list of all-time Isle of Man TT winners, with 11 race victories to his name. |
| He retired in 1999 and now runs a motorcycle dealership. | He retired in 1999 and now runs a motorcycle dealership. |
| "Motorcyclists have got to try and slow down a little bit and read the road better in front of them. | "Motorcyclists have got to try and slow down a little bit and read the road better in front of them. |
| "But likewise car drivers are going to have to be more observant," he added. | "But likewise car drivers are going to have to be more observant," he added. |
| Retirement | Retirement |
| Meanwhile, County Donegal road racer Raymond Porter has announced his retirement "due to the extremely dangerous nature of the sport". | Meanwhile, County Donegal road racer Raymond Porter has announced his retirement "due to the extremely dangerous nature of the sport". |
| He quit after Saturday's Superbike race at the North West 200. | He quit after Saturday's Superbike race at the North West 200. |
| The road was closed after the Newry accident, with motorists being diverted through Newry city centre were warned to expect delays. | The road was closed after the Newry accident, with motorists being diverted through Newry city centre were warned to expect delays. |
| The victim, whose name has not been released, was the 47th person killed in a road accident in Northern Ireland so far this year. | The victim, whose name has not been released, was the 47th person killed in a road accident in Northern Ireland so far this year. |
| New environment minister Arlene Foster has promised to make reducing the number of people killed on the roads one of her top priorities. | New environment minister Arlene Foster has promised to make reducing the number of people killed on the roads one of her top priorities. |
| David Lyle, of Lyle Bailie which makes road safety information films, said people think the worst will never happen to them. | |
| "We all believe good things will happen to us and bad things will happen to other people," he said. | "We all believe good things will happen to us and bad things will happen to other people," he said. |
| "And that is one of the reasons why we have to keep intervening." | "And that is one of the reasons why we have to keep intervening." |