Leading a Group Ride and the Law

[Grahamm]

Here's an article written by a biker who is also a solicitor. It's based on the advice of Jon Hullis, a motoring offence solicitor and Len Tempest a barrister of long standing.

It follows on from the case of Ken Clark who was leading a ride-out and was doing around 85mph in a 60 limit when the two bikes following him were trying to catch up and doing over 100mph and the implication was that, as he was lead rider, his speed was an aggravating factor in the actions of the other two bikers' speeding.

Despite the way this was reported in the media, it seems that things aren't as bad as has been made out:

http://www.bgtbikersolicitors.co.uk/case_law.html#group_ride

(PS Mods: I'd suggest making this a sticky because it's very useful info)

[BIG MAC]

Still dangerous...what of you happen to overtake a bunch of people you don't know and are percieved to be 'in the lead' What if you see a bike bearing down on you and accelerate to allow the bike somewhere to 'tuck in' safely behind you....and what if that bike is an unmarked cop bike?....Cops an aggravating feature according to that logic. The guy has been unfairly dealt with as speeding is a totla offence...he should have been done for his own transgressions..end of. You simply cannot legislate for what someone behind you may or may not do....supposing a car sped up to try to prevent a bike's re-entry into traffic flow and the bike needs to give it a bit more gas...is teh car a mitigating factor...and will the Judge believe it? Police and Magistrates are best confining themselves to fact and leaving supposition and conjecture outside.

[Bracechenko]

Well said Big Mac!