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SAFETY The Motorcycle Safety Department The Department was set up at the end of 2002 to drive the MCI safety agenda and provide a focal point within the industry for safety related matters. The department has quickly become involved at senior levels with the Dept. of Transport (DfT), the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and more. Contacts Karen Cooke : Department Manager. k.cooke@mcia.co.uk : 02476 408031 Jenny Luckman : Youth Education Coordinator. j.luckman@mcia.co.uk : 02476 408032 Seizing the Initiative : The 19 Point Plan In 2000 the government set a target of achieving a 40% reduction in road casualties by 2010 across all modes collectively. Therefore, if one mode falls behind target, the target as a whole is not met. In 2002 an increase in the number of motorcycle fatalities began to cause concern amongst both the Government and the motorcycle community and anecdotal evidence shows that the long hot summer season has resulted in a particularly high number of fatalities during 2003. Although PTW casualty rates were actually at their lowest for 10 years (at the end of 2002), the Governments target is numbers based and this has gone up. As a result, in September 2003 Ministers expressed an intention to act decisively to reduce casualties. Fortunately, Ministers also said that they were willing to consider proposals from stakeholders before finalising any proposals for action. The UK Motorcycle industry therefore undertook an extensive internal consultation process and from this proposed 19 main recommendations for action. These covered actions by industry, Government and joint action between stakeholders. The Review of the 19 Point Plan details the MSC’s progress against the objectives. Continuing the Initiative : The 16 Point Plan In March 2005, the MSC reviewed the 19 Point Safety Plan. This review was prompted by the high level of activity over the proceeding 18 months, coupled with the imminent General Election. It was felt that an incoming Government would welcome such a review with proposals from industry for continued development of the safety strategy by industry and Government. The review is called the 16 Point Safety Plan : Contiuning the Initiative – Developing Motorcycle Safety or 16 Point Plan. A summary is also available in the Resources & Factsheets link. BikeSafe This is another already successful tool that can be employed to help reduce motorcycle related accidents in a practical and cost effective way. 
This scheme was set up by the police to reduce rider casualties in a proactive way. This is done by assessing their skills, highlighting areas that may need improvement and encouraging them to seek remedial training through advanced training bodies. As riders often consider training to be personally irrelevant and boring, this is an effective bridge in persuading riders to acquire better skills both in the short term and as part of a life long learning habit. Despite obvious tensions between riders and roadside police, MCI research and experience shows that riders actually highly respect police motorcyclists as a source of good road riding skills. In this respect it is also a valuable tool in promoting good relationships between the two groups.
MCI has been working closely with ACPO and the DfT to promote BikeSafe on a national basis and create a standardised approach so that riders know what they are getting for their money and can access to the scheme where ever they live. The new structure will have common pricing, syllabuses and products ranging from short ride-outs to two day assessments. The document detailing this new approach is called ‘Bridging the Gap’. For more information contact the MCI Safety Department. The MCI has recently helped BikeSafe produce a DVD to be used across the country as part of BikeSafe workshops. Riders will be shown the DVD (which is not for general release) by a BikeSafe Police Officer who will provide narration on the scenarios shown. Each scenario has two parts ; the first shows the actual bike and rider taking a series of bends, very smooth and well positioned, the second shows a detailed reconstruction in 3D animation of the rider getting one of the bends wrong. The use of computer graphics means that the crash can be accurately replicated without risk or any ‘gore’. Riders can expect to see the DVD as part of their BikeSafe courses from spring 2007. Rider Improvement Schemes (RIS) Reducing casualties on the roads can sometimes seem an elusive goal for Local Authorities and Police alike. Finding cost effective, practical solutions that actually change people’s attitudes and behaviour is a considerable challenge. Looking at intervention courses for drivers who have committed an offence, we realised that rider’s needs were not being met in the same way. We need a scheme similar to these, provided on a nationwide basis which aim to reduce casualties through offering courses and an alternative to endorsement. There were several such schemes running around the UK, but MCI felt that consistency was important and wished to support one scheme which could be delivered on a nationwide basis. The DfT and also ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) were also keen to offer riders the best course possible and to this end two existing schemes have come together to launch one national model. The two schemes were Devon and Cornwall Police with their Rider Risk Reduction Course that was producing good results and Lancashire County Council’s RIDE course which was developed by a panel of experts and was in the pilot stages of implementation. This national model will be running by Spring 2007 and all results will be monitored and evaluated by a team of four top Psychologists to ensure that the courses are relevant to riders and are effective in reducing motorcycle casualties. With the support of ACPO and the DfT, this scheme will be promoted through the police and courts to ensure offenders are referred. The CPS will also be approached to ask if they can increases the range of offences which are eligible for the scheme Post Test Trainers Register (PTTR) MCI have been working closely with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to develop a voluntary Register. At present there are no regulations governing post-test training and in theory anyone with a motorcycle licence could charge riders for post-test tuition. The voluntary register will hold details of post-test training providers who have qualifications that prove that not only are they skilled riders but that they are also skilled trainers (not every expert rider makes a good teacher). This means that any rider wanting post-test tuition will have some way of identifying quality training providers. The register was launched at the Ace Café on 7th February and initial interest from trainers wanting to register has been good. MCI would wish to see mandatory registration for motorcycle trainers at all levels, thus ensuring that good standards of training can be provided and most importantly maintained, to ensure that all riders are properly trained, ultimately making them safer riders. A Street, A Track, An Open Road This innovative, DfT approved DVD, was produced in 2005 in response to concern over rider casualty numbers. The MCI have created an entertaining and educational approach to rider development, designed to get riders thinking about their own skills and experiences without lecturing them.
Suzi Perry commented: ‘I never thought I’d say that a safety DVD was funny and entertaining’.
LINKS : Connecting Citizenship and Road User Education
NEW FOR 2007 – FREE DOWNLOAD – MINI-MOTO’S The issue of mini-moto’s is very topical and dominated the local, regional and national press in the summer of 2006. The Home Office launched a ‘crack down’ on mini-moto nuisance and introduced police powers to crush machines which were being used illegally. In light of this, the MCI have produced the Mini - Moto Module which is intended to be used along side the LINKS resource. It looks at a number of issues including safety, anti social behaviour and the law. Many issues which arise with mini-moto’s are in the LINKS resource under Units such as Crime and Rights and Responsibilities. To download the module, click here. Get The Message : Act Your Age DVD
First Bike on Scene : Accident Management Course
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The Motor Cycle Industry Association Limited
1 Rye Hill Office Park, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry, CV5 9AB Registered in England No. 1113282. |
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Tel: (024) 76 408 000 Fax: (024) 76 408 001 |
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