The wife of a motorcyclist killed in a road collision has spoken about the devastating impact on her family as she urges drivers and riders across Scotland to take another look and avoid taking chances on the road.
Shirley Sloan lost her husband Ian when his motorcycle was involved in a collision with a car on the A719 Waterside to A77 Ayr Road at around 3.10pm on Saturday 15 June 2024.
Ian was 56, a father and grandfather, and motorcycles had been an important part of his life for as long as Shirley had known him.
She is now sharing her family’s experience as part of Police Scotland’s National Motorcycle Safety Campaign 2026 in the hope that their story will encourage everyone using Scotland’s roads to take greater care.
The campaign follows a joint study with Transport Scotland examining motorcycle fatalities between January 2015 and August 2024, which found 269 people, including 253 riders and 16 passengers, were killed during that period.
Despite motorcycles accounting for less than 1% of traffic, motorcyclists represented 18% of all road fatalities in Scotland.
Shirley Sloan said:
“Ian had bikes for all the time that I knew him, it was his love.
“Any time he was stressed or just not feeling great, he would go out on his bike.
“Hearing the words ‘I’m sorry but your husband was killed in a motorcycle accident’ was dreadful.
“Losing a loved one, in the manner that we lost Ian, it was so traumatic.
“You don’t have time to say goodbye, you don’t have time to put plans in place.
“One minute you’re a family of four, making plans for the future, and just in the blink of an eye, the heart of your family is gone.
“It’s left myself and my son and daughter with terrible anxieties as well.
“It’s like we are waiting for something bad to happen again.”
Police Scotland says Scotland’s roads become busier with motorcyclists during the summer and is reminding everyone that keeping people safe is a shared responsibility.
Inspector Hugh Niccolls, Head of Police Scotland’s Motorcycle Unit, said:
“On behalf of Police Scotland, I’d like to thank Shirley Sloan and the Sloan family for taking the time and courage to share their story.
“Shirley’s story is a powerful reminder of the devasting and lasting impact that road collisions can have, not only on those directly involved, but also on the families, friends, and communities affected.
“We know our roads are busier with motorcyclists during the summer months, and so we continue to remind all road users to be mindful of one another.
“As Shirley mentions, road safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re riding a motorcycle, driving a car, are cycling or walking, we all have a role to play in keeping each other safe on Scotland’s roads.”
For Shirley, the message she wants people to remember is simple.
“My message to all road users, whether you’re on a bike or a car, is ride to the road conditions.
“Don’t take chances, don’t cut corners and just take another look.
“That extra second to take a second look, even a third look, could make the difference to someone’s life.
“If someone has a collision in a car, there’s a fair chance they’re walking away.
“But that’s not the same for a biker.”
