Widow of Cambridgeshire motorcyclist says roads 'significantly worse'
Brad Roberts died after a crash near Littleport in 2024
A Cambridgeshire woman who lost her husband in a motorbike crash believes the state of our roads since then is "getting significantly worse".
Chelsie Roberts drives a car and rides a motorbike, and feels action on improving local roads can't come soon enough.
"I'd say it's (the roads) have been getting significantly worse," she said.
"If I'd have gone into a pothole, I'd have probably ended up in my own emergency situation."
Chelsie's husband Bradley Roberts was killed when his motorbike crashed on the A1101 near Littleport in 2024.
The driver - Alicja Grabska - was given a suspended prison sentence for death by careless driving.
Chelsie wants to see Cambridgeshire County Council take further action to improve local roads.
In a message to the council, she said: "Please listen to the locals, start reviewing the roads, consider if you'd want to be regularly commuting on these roads."
Safety app recommended
A report for the National Young Rider Forum into the attitudes, behaviours and needs of motorcyclists aged 16 to 24-years-old found between 2019 and 2023, 22,161 riders were injured.
In a survey for the report, most participants said they'd use an app that included information around route planning, safety tips and further training.
While the report made several recommendations to help improve rider safety:
- Targeting the youngest segments of young riders (16 to 21 years old) as these are the motorcyclists most at risk of being involved in a collision.
- Continuing to highlight the importance of young riders' visibility and bike light maintenance, alongside adopting good road positioning and approach speeds that will help reduce their risk at night-time and at junctions.
- Exploring the potential of an app could include route planning, safe riding tips, and information on training and protective clothing.
"It'd be interesting to get that general opinion to see what needs to change," Chelsie said.
"But it's definitely going to point (towards) that a lot of car users aren't aware enough of their surroundings and the road conditions aren't up to standard."
Extra £20m on improving roads
Cambridgeshire County Council has said since 2023/24, funding to improve local roads has increased by £35m, rising from £24m to £59m.
For the 2025-26 financial year, more than £73m was allocated for highways maintenance, with an extra £20m now agreed for this year.
Chelsie said it's tough to navigate some of the Fen roads as a motorcyclist.
"It's already a hazardous situation; you're already looking out for other road users, any obstructions and hazards in front of you," she added.
"The last thing we need to think about is do we have to practice our swerve avoidance because the potholes are scattered everywhere and you've got to weave through them?
"It would be nice to see more signage, drawing people's attention to motorcyclists in the area."
In its road safety strategy, the Government said it aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035.