A motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a crash with a car near Chalkwell Park, prompting a strong warning from family members and renewed calls for road users to take greater care around bikers.
The collision happened on Monday afternoon on London Road, Westcliff, at the junction with Southbourne Grove. Emergency services were called to the scene immediately, and police closed off a stretch of the road while paramedics treated the injured rider.
A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said:
“Two ambulances were sent to London Road in Westcliff this afternoon following reports of a motorcyclist injured in a road traffic collision. One man was transported to Southend Hospital.”
It’s understood that the man remains in hospital and is currently awaiting surgery.
Following the incident, a relative of the injured biker, Jessica Bailey, shared an emotive statement:
“When will people learn to watch out for bikers. This could have ended very differently. Bikers lose their lives all the time because people simply do not look out for them. To everyone that stopped and helped thank you.”
The crash has reignited discussion around motorcycle safety on UK roads. According to government statistics, motorcyclists account for just 1% of all road users, yet make up around 20% of all road deaths. In 2022, 350 motorcyclists were killed in reported road accidents in Great Britain, and over 16,000 were injured.
London Road is a busy route through Westcliff and a known accident hotspot. The junction with Southbourne Grove in particular has been flagged by residents in the past as a difficult and sometimes dangerous crossing point.
Calls are growing locally for improved visibility at the junction and greater awareness among drivers. One Westcliff resident said: “People fly through that junction without checking properly. It’s not the first time there’s been an accident there, and it won’t be the last unless something changes.”
It isn’t just about looking out for cyclist& motorbikers, there’s such a thing as Sacadic looking, we are all culpable of that , that’s looking without seeing, it’s the brain disregarding information it’s sees.
What this is about is drivers& riders jumping red lights or going through on an amber light ,Amber gambler, I regularly use or cross the junction there, and the number of times I see ‘Amber gamblers’ take the chance.
A single amber light means stop ,a red light means STOP! Simply put if you don’t cross on a signal to stop you won’t hit anyone or thing.
It isn’t about not seeing , it’s about not stopping, thinking that it won’t matter ,I’ll cross, it does matter, it matters a lot!
That does mean YOU !
Please don’t disregard the traffic laws, they are there for a reason.