A NEW campaign is urging drivers to watch out for motorcyclists in a bid to cut road deaths.

Transport for London (TfL) has timed its latest campaign to coincide with the changing light of the autumn months, which can lead to a rise in the number of casualties among motorbike and scooter riders.

The safety campaign comes only three weeks after the death of a motorcyclist in Hendon. Raymond Helman, 52, from Southgate, was killed at the junction of Finchley Lane and Second Avenue, after his silver Honda motorcycle collided with a black Ford Mondeo.

He was taken by ambulance to Royal London Hospital with severe head injuries but later died from his wounds.

According to figures from TfL, there were five motorcycle deaths in Barnet last year, making it one of the highest in the Greater London Area, second only to Westminster.

And with the borough having been shown statistically to be one of the most dangerous areas for motorcyclists, Barnet Council said it fully supports the TfL campaign.

Councillor Andrew Harper, cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "I am grieved that there are any fatal accidents on our roads. The council will continue to work with the police and TfL to look at any further potential safety measures that could be introduced on our road network to further reduce the likelihood of an accident occurring.”

But the council also stipulated that while it was a concern Barnet had the second highest number of motorcycle fatalities, accident levels were measured by the total number of serious and fatal accidents on the road, for which Barnet ranked joint 12th out of 32 boroughs, with 119 recorded incidents.

The most serious concern for campaigners and motorcyclists are drivers who cannot register the speed of oncoming bike riders. Experts say this is a perception problem caused by the brain incorrectly assessing approaching objects.

Chris Lines, head of the London road safety unit at TfL said: "This 'optical illusion' campaign highlights just one of the ways in which drivers can come into contact with motorcyclists. Drivers should look out for motorcyclists in all situations."

John Savill, 40, owner of John's Motorcycle Service, in Plantagenet Road, New Barnet, has been riding motorbikes for more than 30 years, and believes driver perception is a major problem for motorcyclists.

"Car drivers can't register the speed at which smaller objects are coming towards them properly," he said.

"A small object looks like it's travelling slower than it really is. So if you've got a car and a bike both going at 30 miles, the car will look like it's approaching you faster than the bike.

“That's way all motorcyclists ride with their lights on, for extra visual effect."

Apart from driver's altered perception Mr Savill said: "A lot of incidents also come down to the inexperience of the motorcyclist. It's hard, especially when young, to get on a bike and not use all the power that's underneath you.”