A WARNING has been issued about the dangers of powerful motorbikes despite a new report revealing that road deaths in the Ribble Valley have fallen from 13 to two in the last three years.

The statistics, revealed in the new Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Audit, also show serious accidents in the area dropped from 80 to 47 over the three-year study period, and slight accidents were slashed from 314 to 228.

And the area's busiest roads, the A59 and the A682, saw the number of fatalities reduced from four in 1998 to none in 2000.

But the increase in the number of weekend and leisure bikers using quiet country roads in the area has prompted the safety warning.

Audit compilers have welcomed the decline in casualties, but the report states: "There does, however, continue to be a concern over the activities of motorcyclists and collisions involving them, which are often serious or fatal.

"As a consequence, and due to the apparent lack of regard for their own safety and other road users, there continues to be a high profile road safety operation to tackle the problem.

"While the numbers indicated above are reassuring, it is important to note that even in a fortunate areas such as the Ribble Valley, the efforts of the Crime Reduction Partnership will continue to seek ways in which these figures can be consistently reduced."

A number of factors have been suggested for the decline in road fatalities. Schemes like BikeSafe 2000, a joint initiative between Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire police forces, has been implemented to educate motorcyclists about road safety issues.

And both the A59 and A682 have seen an increase in the levels of police patrols and in the use of video speed equipment to help further reduce road casualties.

One scheme currently in the pipeline is Lancashire County Council and Ribble Valley Borough Council's 20mph zones programme, with six sites in the district earmarked for speed cuts.

Road signs are currently being erected in the phase one area, which incorporates Highmoor Park estate, Taylor Street and Peel Park estate in Clitheroe; the Hacking Hobbs and Chaigley Road estates in Longridge; Rogersfield at Langho and St Mary's Gardens at Mellor. Phase two of the scheme will include Henthorn Road, Hayhurst Street and Littlemoor Road in Clitheroe.

A spokesperson for Ribble Valley Borough Council said: "While road safety figures have greatly improved over the last three years, it will continue to be a high priority in the Ribble Valley, particularly due to the increased volume of traffic using the A59 and the A682."