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This reviewer read that one in fifty motorcyclists will die in bike accidents. Frightening isn't it? And equally chilling is the cost of all that leather and Gore-tex, not mentioning the price for a helmet that will protect you from first-degree scrambled brains should you clip the wing-mirror of a Robin Reliant (or is it Reliant Robin?).

That's why more and more people are staying at home and playing Road Rash I and II (and now, EA hope, III). Millions of working days are being lost in the mistaken belief that your Megadrive will get you to the office more safely than your Kawasaki. But for those still brave enough to take to the real streets, we salute you, and offer our own indispensible guide to bike safety.

1. Always ride with your eyes open. This may seem ludicrous, but don't start humming the tune to Superstition or "I just called to say I love you".

2. Don't try and impress your mates by riding whilst doing an impression of George (the bloke with one arm) from the sitcom Robin's Nest.

3. Make sure your feet can touch the carpet. Sorry, Prince. Or whatever you're called now.

4. Don't accept a lift from Billy Idol, Seal or Johnny (Leader of the Pack). Or share a bus with Gloria Estefan. Or Bucks Fizz.

One feature expanded on from Road Rash II is the little side-on sequences shown when you complete a race. A crowd of spectators greet your arrival, which is always followed by a comedy happening - evading the cops, getting splashed. The less well you have performed, the more humiliating the joke.

Road Rash III bursts out of the narrow US confines of the first two games - hey, we live in a Global village now, and there's no urban speed limit. Each level of the game features five international tracks, each with their own distinctive scenery and hazards. Also, the side that the traffic drives on changes depending what country you are in.

1. Kenya Bumpy as you might expect, with a wide selection of wildlife interacting with the track. You are not pals with the WWF. (The conservatinists, not the wrestlers).

2. UK This is meant to simulate the Isle of Man's famous TT race. That means that spectators stand too close to the track, and they charge rip-off prices at the local B&B (jesting).

3. Germany Set in snow-capped regions and slippery autobahns, these are torturously twisting tracks that are made no easier by the blinding colour scheme.

4. Brazil Tropical conditions, so you must be getting hell of a sweaty. There's a preponderance of makeshift ramps by the side of the track, since these Latin types like a bit of flair.

There are more bikes than ever before, and these are split into three categories: Rat (customised bangers for povvies); Sports (decent bikes for mortals); Superbikes (serious bikes for professionals with large wallets). As you progress, your fourteen adversaries get their tushes on better saddles, and if you don't raise the prize money to do also, you're going to look a bit stupid toddling along behind.

A celebrated feature of past Road Rashes has been, excuse the French, the Filth. They're just as much in evidence in part three, with outriders patrolling almost every course. Different nations have police of varying persuasion (of course, you can't beat the friendly old British bobby) who levy varying fines. Unfortunately, they've also equipped themselves with a helicopter that busts you from overhead.

Another update some two years after the sequel to Road Rash, EA's seminal and classic bike racing game.

Beat the fourteen other competitors in each of the long winding courses. Use violence where necessary, and even where it's not.

One educational aspect of Road Rash III is it lets you see all sorts of wildlife in its natural habitat, and lets you hear the sound animals make when they get run over.

This is one truly sick part of the game, with deer, zebra and giraffes innocently crossing the freeway. Also, look out for the smutty cattle.

Well lordy me, I suppose we had been due this one. EA's updates have become a bit of a joke, but not one apparently shared by you punters who push them to the top of the charts every time.

The fact is that no-one has yet out-performed the Road Rash engine, and though this is a refined and faster version of the same, it's not that distance from Road Rash II. I'm disappointed that there aren't as many new features as I hoped for, but I still enjoyed playing it.

The graphics are crisper, especially the player sprite which has been ported over from the 3DO, and the sound neatly matches the locations. But despite new bikes and more levels, I still prefer last year's Skitchin, which is a more effective variant on the road racing theme.

Well, the bike is the same sprite used in the 3DO, but that's where any similarities to the CD game end. Road Rash III is more of the same, with the expected new bikes and locations, and a few extra things to avoid or punch, but it doesn't do that over the second game.

It's sill as playable as ever, and the graphics are notably larger than before, but the colours seem dreadfully washed out giving Road Rash III the same unimpressive look Skitchin' suffered from. I imagine there are very few people new to the Road Rash series and if there are then this is the best introduction possible, but for the rest of us Road Rash II and Skitchin' are more than worthy substitutes.

Not bad, it just seems tired now - time for a rethink if another sequel's on the way, methinks.

Graphics 79%
P. Fast 3D, with more roadside detail and variety between courses than before.
N. A slight jerkiness in the frame update that takes getting used to.

Sound 76%
P. The music and FX change for each country.
N. It's often sad Megadrive Metal for people with acne and Bon Jovi T-shirts.

Playability 85%
P. The old magic is still there. The beat-'em-up aspect is always fun.
N. It's a bit dated, next to the thrills of Ridge Racer and Daytona.

Lastability 81%
P. Road Rash III is the hardest of the series. More depth than the other two and a good two-player option.

Value For Money 74%
N. The other Rashes can be picked up for much less, and Skitchin offers more originality.

Overall 82%
It's still ticking over, but this is one engine that needs to be stripped down next time, and not just overhauled.