On 17th January 2012 the MCI will give evidence to the Transport Select Committee Enquiry concerning the work of the Government's Strategic Framework for Road Safety, following its written submission as part of the Consultation process.
MCI has general support for the framework overall and appreciates the recognition that road safety is still a priority for everyone. Better road users for all modes will help reduce motorcycle accidents which are often caused by lack of care from other road users. However industry is concerned about the lack of specific focus on proactive initiatives to support motorcycle safety as part of a broader recognition of the motorcycle as a mode of transport.
The MCI are calling for Government to:
- Continue the emphasis on education and training, rather than focusing on regulation
- Focus on encouraging and supporting best practice in motorcycle safety, such as BikeSafe, IAM, RoSPA and ERS, rather than funding standalone local safety programmes which merely ‘reinvent the wheel’
- Push ahead with a return to a single-event, on road motorcycle test and to give full consideration to how training and testing should be delivered in the longer term
- Work with the private sector, to develop a new strategic framework for motorcycling, focusing on safety, mobility, accessibility and security
- Provide guidance to local authorities, outlining the importance of motorcycling to local transport projects/plans, as part of local road safety strategies