ik e r

The
s ’
B e to Derbyshire
Guid

fo rm ation
tial rider in
Essen DERBYSHIRE
ROAD SAFETY PARTNERSHIP
 Contents
Get ready for Derbyshire roads 1-3

Smash hits – your guide to Derbyshire’s biker hotspots

A5012 Via Gellia – Cromford to Ivonbrook Quarry 4-5
A621 – Baslow to Owler Bar 6-7
A57 Snake Pass – outskirts of Glossop to Nether North Grain
8-9
B5035 – outskirts of Ashbourne to Wirksworth 10-11
Get ready for Derbyshire roads
A515 – Ashbourne to Alsop-en-le-Dale 12-13 Derbyshire is a bikers’ paradise. Winding roads and
A6 Matlock Bath – High Peak junction to Artist’s Corner epic scenery make for an exhilarating ride. So far, so
14-15 good – until you take into account all the hazards that
A54 and A537 – Buxton to Cat and Fiddle pub 16-17 are out there.
A5004 Long Hill – Buxton to Fernilee 18-19 You need to be at the top of your game every
Become a King of the Road with BikePlus! 20-22 time you pull down your visor and hit the starter
button.
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire is published by the Derbyshire Road
Safety Partnership, which exists to reduce deaths and injuries on the county’s
roads through education, road improvements and policing. For more information DERBYSHIRE

telephone 01629 585072 or email drsp@derbyshire.gov.uk

Nottingham City Hospital
NHS Trust

The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 

 Protect yourself and your
freedom to ride
Get your kit on
You need to be sporting the right gear before you get on your
bike. Your jacket, trousers and boots should be able to protect you from
the weather and from getting hurt if you come off.
Make sure you can be seen by using dipped headlights at all times and
choosing gear that is fluorescent during the day and reflective at night.
Be in the right place at the right time
The middle of your lane is generally a good place to be when
cruising – but do be guided by traffic conditions. Choose a position
that maximises your view of the road and the amount of time that other
road users can see you.
When turning, take up your road position in good time so motorists can
see what you’re trying to do.
Read the road
Become an expert at reading the road and spotting biker
hazards. Manhole covers, worn and shiny tarmac, painted surfaces,
loose chippings, mud, leaves, road kill and diesel spills are all things you
need to avoid if you can.
Always scan as far ahead as you can. Look for clues in the distance that
will tell you what the road is about to do. Signs, telegraph poles, lamp
posts and hedges can help you read the direction of the road.
Ride at a speed that will allow you to slow down and stop within the
distance you can see is clear. The right speed will depend on conditions.
Keep a close eye on the speedometer when it’s wet, foggy or icy.
 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire
Become a master of the manoeuvre
You need to be at the top of your game when negotiating bends,
overtaking and travelling across junctions.
Take a ‘lifesaver’ glance over your shoulder before making a move. You
need to know where other motorists are and what they are doing.
Always remember that the best way to negotiate a bend is ‘slow in’ and
‘smooth out’.
When overtaking, stay well back from the driver in front to get a better
view of the road ahead. Only go for it if the road is clear and you are
confident that you can get past without losing control.
Smash hits – your guide to
Derbyshire’s biker hotspots
We keep a close eye on crash figures and we’ve discovered
eight stretches of road in the Derbyshire countryside where
bikers are regularly coming to grief.
So why is this happening? It’s not down to dark and stormy nights
– that’s for sure. Most of these crashes happened on fine, dry days.
What did these crashes have in common? Well, many of them
happened on bends and the most frequent contributing factors were
loss of control, high speeds and bikes overtaking other vehicles.
The maps that follow pinpoint the 2002-2007*
biker crash sites along these routes >
When riding, look out for the crash warning signs along each route.
*September 2002 - August 2007
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 
 To
A5012 Via Gellia Buxton
A5012
Area covered:
Cromford to Ivonbrook Quarry
Distance: Ivonbrook
1
five miles Signs for Quarry
Middlehill
To Farm
Longcliffe 1

 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

Key
Holly Bush
Crash Hotspot Pub
2 To
1 Number of incidents Winster
White StanicliffeFurniture
stone Stone maker
A5012 cottage
Sign
for Ible
Crash figures
Crashes involving bikes: 20
Stone Bikers killed or injured: 21
Stream
wall and follows
fencing Crash report
road
To How many of these crashes
2 1 happened:
Hopton
1
Lay-by on bends? 75%
1
To at night? 0%
Middleton Stone built
1 1 house in bad weather? 5%
3
Verdict
The most common factors
1 linked to motorbike crashes
on this route are:
• loss of control by biker
A5012 • excessive speed used by
Large biker
lay-by To
Bonsall
Via Gellia
mill Did you know?
2
2 More than half of the people
Ball Eye killed or seriously injured
1 Quarry on this stretch of road were
To Old
garage bikers.
Wirksworth

Cromford To
A6 Matlock Bath N
To Belper
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 
 To
A621 Sheffield
To
Area covered: To Chesterfield
Baslow to Owler Bar Hathersage
1 1
Distance: A6054 Roundabout
Four and a half miles sign Owler Bar
1
Chevrons
Road dips 1
1 Chevrons

 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

Crash figures
1 Chevrons
Crashes involving bikes: 20
Bikers killed or injured: 19 Lay by 2 Sign for bends
1 and 40mph
Crash report
How many of these crashes A621 Entrance
happened: Lay by to farm
1
on bends? 57% Lay by

at night? 5% Lay by

in bad weather? 5%
Verdict
The most common factors Steady 1
incline
linked to motorbike crashes
on this route are: Open
moorland
• loss of control by biker
A621 Key
• overtaking by biker
Sign for
Derbyshire Crash Hotspot
Dales
for N.E. 1 Number of Incidents
To Sign
Derbyshire To
Curbar 1
Barlow
1
Sign for 4
bends
1 To
Bus stop Rocks Cutthorpe &
Chesterfield
1 Woodland

Steady
A621
incline Houses

Farm 1 Open fields

buildings
Did you know?
A619 To N
A619 No bikers involved in these
Chesterfield
To crashes were riding bikes
Bakewell Baslow under 600cc.
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 
 To Manchester
and Stockport
A57 Snake Pass
To
Glossop
Area covered:
Chapel-en- Farm access
Outskirts of Glossop to lane
le-Frith 1
Nether North Grain
Long hill
Distance: Stone
Four miles building 1
Crash 1 1

 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

barrier
1 Chevrons
Crash figures Crash
Crashes involving barrier 1
bikes: 20
Boulders
Bikers killed or 1 lining road
injured: 21 Crash
barrier
Crash report 1
Long hill
How many of these Crash
crashes happened: barrier
A57
Snake Pass
descent sign 1
on bends? 75%
Crash
at night? 5% barrier
Danger of
in bad weather? 10% loose rocks

Verdict
The most common Crash
barrier
factors linked to
motorbike crashes on
this route are:
• loss of control by biker Chevrons 1
• excessive speed used Pennine Way Lay by
crossing point 1
by biker

A57 Did you know?

Most bikers killed or
Reduce injured on this route
speed sign were in their forties.
2
2
Steep incline with
long drops Key
1 Crash barrier
1 Crash Hotspot
1
2 1 Number of Incidents
Chevrons
Reduce
To speed sign
Sheffield A57
Woodland
N
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 
 To
B5035 Middleton
N
1
Area covered:
To
Outskirts of Ashbourne 1
Cromford
to Wirksworth
Rising Sun pub
Distance: 2
Bridge over road
Eight and a half miles 4
Entrance to
Middleton Top
1

10 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

1
To Brassington
Did you know? Sign for To
stone works Wirksworth
Most riders killed or injured Sign for
on this route were riding Hopton 1
bikes over 600cc. To Hopton B5035 Godfreyhole
Pedestrian Cyclists To
To Carsington warning warning
sign sign
Kirk
Breach Ireton
Farm Car park
entrance
To Brassington 1

Carsington
1 Knockerdown Water
pub
To Bradbourne 1
Sign for To Hulland
Carsington Key
Water
To Hognaston Crash Hotspot
B5035
1 Number of Incidents
Circular
navigation array
1 Church
Red Lion pub Hill and bends Crash figures
2 Kniveton Crashes involving bikes: 19 Bikers killed or injured: 20
Steep hill &
sharp bends Crash report
How many of these crashes happened:
B5035
red on bends? 80%
post box
at night? 0%
Red 1 The Ketch pub
brick in bad weather? 5%
house
1 open Verdict
ground The most common factors linked to motorbike crashes
on this route are:
Ashbourne • loss of control by biker • lack of judgement of biker
To Derby
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 11
 To Buxton
A515 Lay by 1

Car park
Area covered: sign
Road undulates
Ashbourne to Alsop-en-le-Dale with sharp 1
bends
Distance: 1
To Alsop-
Five and a half miles 2 en-le-Dale
Newton
To Milldale & House

12 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

Crash figures Alstonefield
Crashes involving bikes: 17 Red brick
1 house
Bikers killed or injured: 23
Crash report A515
How many of these crashes
happened:
on bends? 60%
at night? 5%
1
in bad weather? 0% Unsigned road
2 to Tissington
Verdict To Thorpe
The most common factors & Dovedale
linked to motorbike crashes
on this route are: 1
• loss of control by biker
To
Bluebell pub Tissington Key
• excessive speed used by
biker Crash Hotspot
A515 Metal bridge
over road
Long hill 1 Number of Incidents
1

Coach &
Church Horses pub
Bentley Fenny
Brook Hotel
Woodland Bentley
2
To Longcliffe
and Via Gellia
To Thorpe Road 1
& Dovedale dips 1 Peak Park
stone sign
1
Entrance to N
1 Sandybrook Park Did you know?
A515 The largest proportion of bikes
Fuel station involved in crashes on this route
To Ashbourne were over 900cc.
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 13
 To Matlock
A6 Matlock Bath
1 1 1
Area covered:
High Peak junction to Artist’s
Corner
Artist’s Corner A6 car park
Old
Distance: garage
Three and a half miles
Metal bridge
and lay by
Pedestrian

14 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

Key crossing 1 1
1 Large tree &
1 30mph sign
Crash Hotspot
The Pavilion Car park
Temple Hotel 1 & car park entrance &
Number of
1 obelisk Midland Hotel
incidents
2
Matlock
Bath
Cromford A6 Masson Mill
& car park
Crash figures
Crossroad Crashes involving bikes: 19
To 2 traffic lights
1
Bikers killed or injured: 23
Wirksworth
1 To Lea and Crash report
2 Holloway How many of these crashes
happened:
at junctions? 50%
at night? 0%
in bad weather? 0%
Verdict
The most common factors
Fuel linked to motorbike crashes
station 1 on this route are:
Garden Centre • biker’s failure to judge
1 entrance another vehicle’s speed
• loss of control by biker
• careless behaviour by biker
A6

Pisani entrance Did you know?

Telephone 1
box Most bikes involved in
N crashes on this route were
over 600cc.
To Belper
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 15
 To A537
A54 A537 Cat & Fiddle Macclesfield
Cat & Fiddle
Area covered: pub
Buxton to Cat & Fiddle Pub
Distance: A537
Two miles 1 To
Buxton

A54
Cheshire

16 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

To 1
Congleton County
1 boudary
Derbyshire
To
Derbyshire
Key bridge
Crash Hotspot

Number of
1
incidents
Crash figures
A54 Crashes involving bikes: 17
Bikers killed or injured: 21
2
1 Crash report
How many of these crashes
1 happened:
1
on bends? 95%
1
at night? 0%
1
1 in bad weather? 5%
Verdict
1
The most common factors
2 linked to motorbike crashes
Crash on this route are:
barrier • loss of control by biker
1 • excessive speed used by
2
biker

N
Did you know?
Ninety per cent of all
A54 people killed or injured on
this route were bikers.
Buxton
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 17
 To Whaley Bridge
1 1 A5004 Long Hill
1 Shady
Oak Area covered:
pub Buxton to Fernilee
Distance:
Five miles

18 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire

1 Crash figures
Crashes involving bikes: 17
Bikers killed or injured: 19
A5004
Crash report
Fernilee How many of these crashes happened:
2
Village on bends? 80%
at night? 5%
Viewing
Point in bad weather? 0%
Verdict
The most common factors linked to
A5004 motorbike crashes on this route are:
• loss of control by biker
• lack of judgement by biker
Fernilee 1
Reservoir

Trees
1

Did you know? 2

Sixty per cent of the

To 1
crashes on this route 1
involved a single bike and Errwood
no other vehicles. Reservoir 1
3 Midshires
Way
N Key
Crash Hotspot
A5004

1 Number of incidents
Buxton
The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 19
 BikePlus
application form
Please do not send payment with this application
Name:
Address:
Become a King of the Road with

BikePlus! Post Code:

BikePlus is a one day course that
allows qualified riders to further Telephone number:
develop their skills. Date of birth:
The normal cost of the training is £180 – but bikers living in Derbyshire
Driving licence number:
can enrol for as little as £50 thanks to a discount* scheme managed by
the county council. If you live outside the county you could still be eligible Date that you passed your bike test:
for a £90 discount meaning you could pay just £90.
Make and model of your bike:
Instructors approved by the Driving Standards Agency teach bikers to
spot hazards and tackle challenges such as cornering and overtaking
with greater confidence.
How often do you ride?
For more details
Call Derbyshire on 08456 058 058
DETACH HERE

Do you ride in Derbyshire?

*All discounts are subject to availability of funding and may not always be available. Continued overleaf

20 The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire The Bikers’ Guide to Derbyshire 21

 What situations – if any – have caused you difficulty while riding?

Signed

Date

Please complete and return this application in an envelope to:

The Road Safety Team, Derbyshire County Council,
County Hall, Matlock DE4 3AG.

DETACH HERE

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