RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

July 3, 2007
RoSPA HELPS EMPLOYERS TO PROMOTE SAFER MOTORCYCLING

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is encouraging employers to promote safer motorcycling, as new figures show an increase in the number of riders killed on Great Britain’s roads.

Employers have legal obligations to manage the safety of staff who use motorcycles in the course of their jobs, but RoSPA hopes they will also give motorcyclists who ride outside working hours the opportunity to develop their skills.

The Society’s Safer Motorcycling Through Work guide gives advice on promoting motorcycling initiatives via the workplace.

Figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed that 599 motorcycle users were killed in 2006, five per cent more than during 2005. The overall number of motorcycle casualties fell by six per cent to 23,326.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “Motorcycling is increasingly popular and there have been some tremendous technological improvements in recent years that have contributed to safety. Riders, however, remain more vulnerable to serious injury than other road users, and it was disappointing to see that deaths among motorcycle users increased in 2006 following a fall for two years in a row.

“With only limited protection offered by ‘secondary safety’ features such as helmets, gloves and riding gear, motorcyclists have to rely almost entirely on ‘primary safety’ – using their skills and experience to safeguard themselves by avoiding a collision in the first place.

“People are often extremely busy with various commitments away from work, so we hope employers will consider enabling their staff to develop these skills via the workplace. Providing such opportunities for staff who ride privately, as well as those who ride for work purposes, can also bring very real business benefits. The effects of an accident, whether it happened in or out of work, are costly, and helping staff stay safe therefore makes good business sense.”

Safer Motorcycling Through Work outlines the ethical, legal, business and practical reasons for employers to consider promoting safer motorcycling. It is particularly useful for employees who want to act as a “safer motorcycling champion” within an organisation and includes advice on fully involving staff in the development of initiatives.

Practical suggestions include inviting trainers to give presentations, allowing riders to attend assessments or training off-site during work time, offering advanced motorcycle training, and even organising track and off-road days.

Safer Motorcycling Through Work was produced with DfT support and includes a preface written by television presenter and motorcyclist Suzi Perry.

Free copies are available by calling David Penman on 0121 248 2037 or emailing dpenman@rospa.com, and they can also be downloaded at www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/motorcycling_through_work.pdf