Buckinghamshire road safety team’s ‘Be a Better Biker’ scheme has received a commendation from the Prince Michael Awards’ scheme for its contribution to improving the safety of bikers.
Be a Better Biker was developed to address the disproportionate number of crashes involving powered two wheelers on Buckinghamshire’s roads. In 2003, 13 bikers died on the county’s roads.
The road safety team conducted in-depth research and ran focus groups with bikers in order to find out what they thought might work. The research revealed that males aged 30 years or above and riding high-powered sports bikers were most at risk. The focus groups revealed that while many riders admitted they needed more training, they did not want to be seen to be asking for it.
To combat this, Be a Better Biker was branded as an assessment of a biker’s skills. Since the scheme began in 2004, almost 500 bikers have signed up to improve their riding skills; from thinking and planning through to applying advanced riding techniques.
The fact that local motorcyclists, dealers, training schools and the motorcycle industry have been fully involved in the campaign from the outset has been identified as an important reason for its on-going success in helping to halve the number of motorcyclists injured on the county’s roads.
For more information contact Nigel Spencer, from Buckinghamshire County Council, on 01296 383431.
Unfair or not Dave… it’s the truth. And yes they do require a different approach, one that maybe was not identified or offered by Bucks apparently.
An example.. in Blackpool there were 3 deaths of motorcyclists in a three year period. In those same years some 83 accidents occurred to bikers on machines up to 125cc.
They are the most inexperienced and vulnerable of all motorcyclists. Many of the accidents are not their fault with many SMIDGY’s. On the other hand many of the other more major accidents, addressed by Bucks and every other authority, are committed by older riders and many are contributed to in some way by their own actions, there being very few that involve another vehicle. Not that that doesn’t happen of course but unfortunately some riders do contribute to their own demise.
I would like to see more of an emphasis on training/educating these youngsters as well as the so called ‘Advanced Riders’.
But then there is money to made in such ‘Advanced training’, isn’t there.
The national and regional stats all bear these comments out.
Bob Craven, Lancs
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That’s a little unfair Mr Craven. Teenage riders on scooters require a completely different approach to older riders on larger bikes and so would need to come under a different project. Well done Bucks.
Dave, Leeds
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Whilst it is obvious to many that the over 30s maybe born again bikers who are at a great risk particularly on higher speed country roads on bends and on committing to inapropriate overtaking manouvers.
It must also be recognised that newbies on scoots and small machines are also very very vunerable. They do not suffer as many deaths but do make up the majority of accidents and casualties and they are in the town scene. What efffort and monies was put into them to improve their chances of survival on the roads in Bucks?
They also needed consideration.
It’s so much easier identifying and getting riders with money to become an advanced rider but its another problem and much more difficult to get the message over to those more vulnerable youngsters.
So well done Bucks… for doing half a great job.
rcraven
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