MOTORCYCLISTS in West Yorkshire are being killed in crashes because they over-estimate the power of their bikes, it has been claimed.

The West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership - which draws in all five local councils across the county - said at least three recent serious motorcycle crashes in the region happened when the rider tried to overtake a vehicle turning right.

Two of the bikers died and the third was seriously hurt.

Partnership spokesman Philip Gwynne said in each accident the motorcyclists accelerated in an attempt to get past the vehicle before it turned, but ended up smashing into its side as it pulled out.

He added: "The common factor in all these tragedies was that the motorcyclist was attempting to get past the right-turning vehicle by overtaking on the right - the driver's blind side.

"This manoeuvre is clearly fraught with danger, especially as all three riders appear to have seriously over-estimated the power of their machine to get them past quickly."

Insp Michael Green, of West Yorkshire Police's traffic support division, said: "Motorcycles are powerful machines, but it's clear that riders are over-estimating exactly how powerful they are.

"It's not about how many ccs you've got, it's about common sense.

"A motorcycle is not a magic carpet that can simply whisk you out of trouble. It is potentially a killing machine."