Bikesafe are challenging senior members of the motorcycle industry to a
BikeSafe assessment as part of the National Motorcycle Week (16-23rd
July) activities. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Piaggio, Watsonian Squire and
Norman Hyde are the manufacturers who will be participating on 18th
July.
Staff from the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), based in
Coventry, will be joining them too, as they are put through their paces
by some of the most experienced motorcycle cops in the UK.
BikeSafe is a national assessment scheme for motorcycle riders, that
aims to reduce the number of motorcycle casualties, organised by police
forces across the UK. Police from Warwickshire, Cheshire and North Wales
will be on hand during the day to run two sessions.
Each rider will be taken out by one policeman who will assess their
skills on a one hour ride and then provide feedback at the end of the
session to advise them on their next developmental steps.
In a drive to develop stronger links with the motorcycle training
industry, BikeSafe is working in partnership to build a link that should
enable riders who take part in a BikeSafe assessment to get access to
post-test training more easily. This is also being supported by the
Driving Standards Agency.
BikeSafe currently assesses around 4,500 people each year and the
majority of participants in this scheme would benefit from referral to
proper training.
The new BikeSafe strategy is going to bridge the gap between BikeSafe
and the trainers in an ideal partnership that can help reduce motorcycle
casualties. It will also provide a scheme that offers one product,
delivered in multiple venues and will hopefully grow to meet the
increasing demand.
Karen Cooke MCI's Head of Motorcycle safety said, " National Motorcycle
Week is the industry's annual campaign that promotes the benefits of
motorcycling and encourages riders to participate in events or
activities. MCI has a strong commitment to improving rider skills and
has supported BikeSafe for a number of years.
"This assessment opportunity for key players to come together was the
perfect match for National Motorcycle Week and all of the riders are
expecting to gain some useful tips and insight into their own riding
techniques."
