A FAMILY who lost their father in a motor cycling accident have urged drivers to look out for bikers.

Charity worker Jim Muldowney was an experienced biker who died on a Hereford road last November.

The 52-year-old from Mordiford was riding a Yamaha R6 when a Peugeot 206 blocked his path on Hampton Park Road.

The Peugeot driver, Pamela Oseman, of Hampton Park Road, admitted causing death by driving without due care and attention at Hereford Magistrates on May 20.

The 76-year-old was disqualified from driving for three years and fined £2,000. She must also pay combined costs of £75 and must take an extended re-test before driving again.

While the sentencing brought some closure, Jim’s family realise a lapse of concentration caused the accident.

They want car drivers to be more aware of bikers, especially at junctions, and are backing the Think! motorbike campaign.

“He was taken from us by a momentary lapse, leaving behind such pain and heartache,” said a family statement.

“He was a very experienced biker who started riding at the age of 16, both on the road and track.

“But he was so aware of the dangers to motorcyclists. He was well aware that car drivers did not always see motorcyclists, especially when turning right.”

Jim was born in Hereford in 1956 and devoted his life to helping other people. A keen footballer in his youth, he often played for Sutton FC before moving to Oxford to complete a marketing degree.

His Royal Mail career started at St Peter’s post office in Hereford and he later became a marketing manager. He took voluntary redundancy after 25 years, and spent two years with a homeless charity in Swindon before returning to Hereford.

He found his vocation as a benefits manager at Age Concern, and was travelling to see a client when the accident occurred.

The Think! campaign urges car drivers to concentrate at junctions, while warning bikers that some motorists may not see them.

An estimated 1,500 bikers are killed or seriously injured each year because drivers don’t look properly.

The campaign also targets leisure bikers and encourages safe riding through improved skills and wearing the correct clothing.

Jim’s family support both initiatives and hope relatives of other bikers won’t experience their ordeal: “His loss left a huge gap in our lives, especially for his four children, of whom he was extremely proud.

“It’s caused a lot of pain and heartache, but we hope it makes other drivers stop and think.”