Motorcycle safety

If you're a motorcyclist, it is generally accepted that there are a few risks attached and that’s just part of riding.

We accept risk as a necessary part of motorcycling, and in some way that helps to make the whole experience more enjoyable. Sadly, motorcyclists are being killed or seriously injured on Kent's roads far too regularly.

Recent research has shown that 30-59 year old men are the group most likely to be involved in bike crashes. But 16-19 year olds are a close second - with a rising number of scooter and moped riders involved in crashes.

The younger group are also being involved in a high number of slight injury crashes.

Scooter and moped riders are very vulnerable, particularly in urban areas, where their mobility through busy traffic lanes, sometimes at inappropriate speeds, is getting them into the sort of trouble their skills cannot cope with. 

"I know how to handle my bike, and I can ride my way out of trouble if I have to."

A lot of bikers think like that and a lot of bikers are killed or seriously injured every year. Motorcycles account for 20% to 25% of crashes in Kent, but make up less than 2% of the traffic.

How are we saving the lives of motorcyclists?

We have a number of bikers within our road safety team. We work hard to create campaigns that challenge motorcyclists' attitudes and help reduce crashes involving motorcycles.

If you're a biker:

• how do you treat speed limits?
• where do you overtake?
• how do you see other road users?
• do you have all the gear, but no idea?
• are you doing all you can to protect your vital parts?
• are you able to give your bike the skill it deserves?

Most compulsory basic training (CBT) establishments are able to offer post-test training to any rider and tailor the instruction to the student rider’s needs.

You might have a problem with bend assessment or night riding. You can go to your local CBT provider, or to the Ride with Attitude website to find a post-test instructor.

Safety campaigns

We use specific, hard-hitting campaigns to push home our road safety message to motorcyclists.

Our campaigns aim to challenge and change bikers' attitudes - especially to speed. We use ideas, images and language that are designed to appeal directly to bikers. We hope this will have more impact than traditional road safety messages.

What are we doing right now?

Visit the Ride with Attitude website and use it to report road defects that you are aware of, join the bikers forum and add tips and advice. It is a website for bikers by bikers, where we can all learn something and pass on useful information.

RIDE (Rider Intervention Developing Experience) is a diversionary scheme.

The Bare Bones project is aimed at 16 -19 year olds and delivered at compulsory basic training level to young riders, to heighten their awareness to their own vulnerability. It is currently being run in Maidstone and Thanet, and will soon be run across the rest of Kent.