RoSPA, #SkillUp during Motorcycle Safety Week – April 2023

Posted on Friday 7th April 2023 in All Road Users, Education and Training, Motorcyclists

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is a not-for-profit organisation that has worked for more than 100 years to help people recognise and reduce their risk of accidents, at home, on the road, at work and at leisure. Their goal is to enable everyone to live their lives to the full, safely.

RoSPA asks young riders and their families to #SkillUp during Motorcycle Safety Week. Motorcyclists aged 16 to 24 are twice as likely to be killed or injured than their 40-49 year old counterparts per capita, according to new data analysis by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

The analysis marks the launch of RoSPA’s Novice Rider Hub, which looks to help young motorcycle riders skill up and keep safe on the road through videos and advice. Nationally, 2021 saw 1,546 motorcyclists aged 16-24 injured or killed on Britain’s roads, compared to 704 40-49 year olds. The number of motorcycle riders is also rising, with CBT completions 22 per cent higher than they were in 2019.

The launch of RoSPA’s Novice Rider Hub coincides with The National Fire Chiefs Council’s National Motorcycle Safety Week, running from 3-9 April.

David Walker, Head of Road Safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said:

“When you’re a young adult and keen to get out and about, having your own transport is exciting and liberating. But we know that younger and novice riders are at the most risk of injury or death on the road, with 16-24 year olds twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured.

“Our Novice Rider Hub is a one-stop-shop for everything a young rider needs to skill up and ride safely, including videos, advice guides and more. We would encourage all parents of young adults who ride a motorcycle to check it out and encourage their child to do the same – knowledge saves lives.”

Dan Quin, Road Safety Lead for NFCC, said:

“The launch of the Novice Riders Hub during NFCC’s National Motorcycle Safety Week is fantastic news.

“This one-stop-shop is a valuable tool in supporting our work and that of fire and rescue services. It will help us to engage with and share trusted advice to those motorcyclists most at risk and their families.”

With DfT funding, RoSPA has produced a wide range of free resources for specific road users: drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians and pedal cyclists and also employers, teachers, parents and road safety practitioners.