The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has today launched the
motorcycle industry's new motorcycle safety strategy. This new strategy
follows the successful implementation of the majority of the actions in
its 2003 strategy for making motorcycle safer to use on UK roads.
The new strategy has been launched against a backdrop of improving
motorcycle safety. In 2004 motorcycle casualties fell by 10%, with the
number of motorcycle fatalities falling by 16%, the largest percentage
improvement of any form of private transport.
The industry's 2003 safety strategy outlined the motorcycle industry's
position on how the motorcycle casualty reduction strategy should
evolve. It offered commitment to developing solutions and recognised
that safety issues went far beyond just the motorcycle rider and the
motorcycle itself. It offered a range of initiatives to be undertaken by
industry, Government and through partnership between Government and
industry.
The policy paper became known as 'The 19 Point Safety Plan' and since
its publication in October 2003, the MCI has committed significant
resources to its implementation, with activities strongly supported by
MCI member companies through a new industry body, the Motorcycle Safety
Committee (MSC).
These actions culminated in the launch of the DfT supported 'A Street, A
Track, An Open Road' rider skills DVD in February 2005, which is now
supplied to the buyers of all new powered two wheelers.
In March 2005, the industry reviewed the 19 Point Safety Plan. This
review was prompted by the high level of activity over the proceeding 18
months, coupled with a need to evolve the strategy due to the changing
road safety picture. The review revealed that although great progress
had been made by industry (with this partly reflected in the improved
motorcycle safety figures) much still needed to be done, in particular
by the Government. Key items of concern include the Government's
unwillingness to fund the successful Bikesafe Programme, failure to
close loopholes in pre licence training and a failure to offer further
incentives for people to undertake post motorcycle test training.
MCI has presented several key points in the new strategy these include:
- Bikesafe funding - Government's continued concern about
motorcycle safety should be matched with a willingness to fund local
motorcycle safety programmes such as Bikesafe.
- Licensing - Government should resist European proposals
to introduce a new rider licensing regime which discriminates against
novice motorcyclists by raising ages of access to motorcycles and
significantly increasing the cost of gaining a licence - while doing
nothing to modify the decades old car licence regime.
- National strategy - Government to place priority on
implementing its ground breaking National Motorcycle Strategy.
Craig Carey-Clinch MCI's Director of Public Affairs said, "The
industry's new safety strategy represents a step forward in the
motorcycle industry's commitment to safer roads for motorcyclists. The
new strategy will augment MCI's actions since 2003, which have shown a
clear willingness to tackle the issues and deliver initiatives. We now
call on Government to do the same by supporting the kind of actions
which will allow motorcycling opportunities as both a leisure activity
and an alternative to the car to be explored in a safer environment."
