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Front Page
Focus On
Parliamentary Terms and Definitions
Behind the Lines
Safer Riding
Compensation Insurance Runs into Opposition
Diesel Spills Kill
Bikes in Bus Lanes
MAG Condemns Callous Behaviour
MAG Foundation
A New Charity the
"MAG Foundation"
MAG Changes
Ian Moore Acting Chair
Resignation of Chief Executive Henry Marks
Statement from Anne Gale on her Resignation
Local Group Meetings
Local Changes
Northern
Ireland News and AGM
Odds and Sods
Motoring Myths
Websites of the Month
Stolen Bike
MAG Events at MAG UK
Previous Issues
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SAFER RIDING
MAG sits on the Governments Advisory Group on Motorcycling (GAGM).* The meeting of the group on 17th September 2003 was attended by David Jamieson (Transport Minister). He
explained that his roads brief included safety, which was an important strand of the Government's 10 Year Plan.
The Minister recognised that a consequence of growth in motorcycle traffic was
increased casualties and that the casualty rate needed to be looked at as well as the gross increase in accidents.
But although some casualty rates for motorcyclists had fallen over the last 10
years, this was not true in respect of 'fatals', and motorcyclists were still 30 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured per mile travelled, than car drivers.
Each death caused
a great deal of misery to all those affected. This could also deter people from taking up a mode of transport which many people find the best option, especially in urban traffic.
The Government
could not ignore this and the Minister asked officials to draw up proposals to address the problem of increasing motorcycle accidents.
The minister stated he would be pleased to hear suggestions
on how this could be addressed.
The greatest fear was that the minister would act with sweeping legislation detrimental to motorcycling.
Thankfully the minister stated, that he did not want
to introduce knee-jerk reactions but to initiate sensible measures which would ultimately improve safety.
Subsequently the Department for Transport (DfT) requested proposals from the motorcycle
community for reducing motorcycle casualties by the end of October 2003.
MAG submitted its suggestions on “Safer Riding” with an overview on were motorcycling stands now.
While
we feel that other road users must share a proportion of the blame for accidents involving motorcycles we accept that most accidents involve errors of judgement from all involved parties. We recognise
furthermore that a significant proportion of fatal accidents suffered by motorcyclists involve no-one other than the rider.
MAG consider it reasonable to speculate that the Direct Access route, by
means of which most new riders now gain their licenses may be a factor associated with some of these accidents.
Common sense suggests that to proceed from novice status to riding contemporary
superbikes within as little as a week poses risks to those who take this route.
In recognition of this MAG suggest that the Direct Access route should involve a far more rigorous training regime.
Such a regime should take a rider beyond the standard of basic riding competence traditionally required to pass the Department of Transport test.
While not presuming to specify the precise number
of hours of training that might reasonably be required of a novice, MAG support in principle the idea of a far more rigorous regime of training and evaluation of riding skills than currently exists.
MAG suspects that the problem of the superbike accident victim is a feature of the “macho” competitive mentality encouraged by the mainstream motorcycle press.
MAG recognises that
existing voluntary training schemes such as Bikesafe can not be guaranteed to reach those most in need of them, which is a reflection of the attitude of those most in need of advice.
MAG think it
appropriate therefore to amend the judicial system so as to link motoring misdemeanours to training. MAG consider that the most effective way of doing this would be to offer those facing fines and
license points the option of taking further training in both skills and attitude. Such training would be entirely at the expense of the rider. Notwithstanding the probability that such training would
cost several hundreds of pounds, it is our belief that most riders would chose such an option in order to avoid license points and the insurance premium increment that they would otherwise incur.
MAG’s contribution to the resolution of the accident problem lies with providing publicity for training initiatives and cultivating an appropriate mental attitude to motorcycling on the public
highway.
Whilst central government has issued some guidance to local authorities encouraging motorcycle parking, in most areas little or no secure parking provision for motorcycles exists. This
results in bikes being parked on convenient open spaces and pavements, reinforcing the image of being outside of conventional society.
Adequate parking must be ensured to legitimise the use of
powered two wheelers for commuting and shopping.
Access to Bus Lanes should be harmonised nationally to encourage the legitimate use of motorcycles and diminish the “bandit” image of
bikers.
MAG through the Federation of European Motorcyclists Federations (FEMA) is responding to the European Commissions European Road Safety Action Program document in halving the number of road
accident victims in the European Union by 2010. This is a long term solution but deals comprehensively with all aspects of motorcycle safety and rider training in reducing accidents.
MAG supports
and has set up motorcycle safety forums with local councils and has now gone on the offensive by taking the initiative where unenthusiastic councils have failed to establish forums by setting up those
forums with the local motorcycle community and national organisations, thus presenting those councils with a fait acompli.
A full copy of MAG’s Safer Riding can be obtained by contacting central office on
0870 444 8 448.
You can now download the document Here
*Lord Whitty established the Advisory Group on Motorcycling (AGM)
on 6 May 1999. The AGM has now met seven times and has set up Task Forces to examine environmental and fiscal issues, statistics, research, vehicle safety and security, and integration and traffic
management.
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