MOTOR CYCLE TRAINING
MCI
128



Putting the wheels
of change in motion		  


Samantha Tyson-Evans reveals the latest news from the Motor Cycle Industry



Suzi Perry on board with Riders’ DVD
"The MCI wants to see safer roads and ultimately reduce the number of bike and scooter casualties"
At the tail end of 2003 the Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) launched its 19-point safety policy. The policy document was formed after months of discussion and planning with other relevant bodies. It underpins the activities of the MCI and forms a basis from which the Association works alone and in partnership to bring about change. Fundamentally, the MCI wants to see safer roads and ultimately reduce the number of bike and scooter casualties. To achieve this a broad range of actions and activities are in place or being developed.

Media initiatives
Working with the media is a key element of the MCI’s activity, and one of the aims of the policy is to reach an understanding with the motorcycle media regarding editorial coverage and promoting responsible riding to their readers. A media forum comprising publishers and editors was established in September 2003. Creating an opportunity for the industry and media to put their heads together to thrash out specific issues, this forum is now a regular feature in the MCI calendar. Positive outcomes have followed. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of articles and features that promote responsible riding and offer tips on how to use a bike better and achieve a higher skill level when riding either alone or in groups.

Bike Swap – The Riders’ DVD
The MCI made a commitment to investigate and produce an educational product that would be given away free with all new and used bikes. The challenge has been met with the current production of a DVD which is due to be launched in February. The innovative DVD will give riders tips about how to increase their motorcycling skills level and offer other advice and tips.

The DVD will be presented in a modern, accessible and humorous format. Expect to see some famous faces promoting the DVD and even appearing in it. TV personality and Moto GP commentator Suzi Perry is supporting the project and track star Chris Walker will feature. Initially, the DVD will be issued with all new bikes purchased at franchised dealers. Further copies will be available from other sources including a specialist distribution company. The industry is committed to improving the skills of all riders on our roads given the current concern about motorcycle casualties. Experienced and novice riders can achieve this if they take action to achieve excellence through track days, training and the use of schemes like BikeSafe. The DVD will offer riders practical tips and raise their awareness about how to protect themselves on the roads. Even the most experienced rider can benefit from this approach. The DVD will not wag fingers at riders in an old-school style, but will help people get more from their riding experience as their knowledge and confidence increases.

Get yourself assessed
In September, the MCI put its hand in its pocket to secure funding of administration costs for the national motorcycle safety programme “BikeSafe” The industry grant amounts to a total of £37,500, which will provide the essential subsidy until the end of the financial year in April 2005. The programme is currently coordinated nationally by North Wales police, and officers around the country, who often give up free time to ensure the scheme’s success. As well as being popular among riders, BikeSafe can claim success in cutting casualty numbers. BikeSafe London is one of the most popular in the country and is heavily oversubscribed. MCI believes that the programme has helped towards the 8% decrease in motorcycle casualties in London in 2003. Resources for BikeSafe have always been tight, with many programmes relying on the goodwill of chief police officers and individual police motorcyclists. As a result, earlier this year, BikeSafe, with the support of MCI applied for proper year-to-year funding from the network of safety camera partnerships.

BikeSafe at work creating safer riders
“The idea of a national road safety scheme effectively going bust a few months after its launch is absurd”

This was refused due to the current rules surrounding how revenue raised from speed cameras can be used. Questions in Parliament exposed unwillingness by government to change the rules so that road safety programmes with a proven track record, such as BikeSafe, could benefit from camera cash. MCI feels that the BikeSafe funding issue has exposed a lack of coherent thinking by government with regard to motorcycle safety, and highlighted the vexed issue of the role of speed cameras. Craig Carey-Clinch, MCI Director of Public Affairs says: “The idea of a national road safety scheme, which is police run, has public support and a proven track record, effectively going bust a few months after its launch is absurd. “It is quite clear that if we’re to see a reduction in motorcycle accidents BikeSafe needs sustainable levels of long-term funding, which it can only really get from government sources.

This will help the programme develop and reach more riders who are at risk. “The refusal of ministers to consider speed camera funding is short sighted and exasperating to say the least. Speed cameras are so unpopular partly because there is a public perception that cash for cameras disappears into the black hole of safety camera partnerships never to be seen again. Public acceptability of speed cameras would improve if some of the revenue raised was ploughed back into a scheme which the public can see helps to improve road safety in an area of particular public concern – motorcycle accidents. ”

Education, education, education
Youth Day is currently the main event that the MCI runs to actively promote safer road use to young people. Youth Day was set up by the MCI in November 2000 and it takes place at the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show every other year. The MCI is committed to youth education and the development of road-user education. In an established National Curriculum, the MCI recommends messages and activities, which would vary according to the age of pupils and would include things such as cycle proficiency, motor projects and a GCSE option in motor vehicle and road-user studies. The MCI has been actively involved in youth education since the mid-1990s, supporting motor projects such as the successful SKIDZ programme in High Wycombe, which engages young people at a number of levels in road-user education. This includes responsible road use, vehicle engineering and road safety. MCI was also instrumental in the development and launch of the charity UK Youth’s “On 2 Wheels” programme.


BikeSafe at work creating safer riders
"The MCI has been actively involved in youth education since the mid-1990s"

Youth Day aims to:

  • Promote safe road use to young people
  • Create a safer environment for tomorrow’s road users
  • Promote the safe and positive involvement of young people in motorcycling
  • Inform young people about the varied careers available within the Motor Cycle Industry

This year, the event was supported by John Reynolds, who acted as a spokesperson and was also delighted to present the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Winning ways
The Outstanding Achievement Award was established to reward young people who have demonstrated success and growth in the field of road-user education, motorcycling and/or automotive-based education. This trophy is given to an individual under the age of 25 years who has made a particular achievement in the automotive field. A 16-year-old young woman, who is profoundly deaf, won this special award. Kathryn Wardle clinched the trophy. She has been riding bikes since she was three years of age, has gone on to win ladies trials and has now been accepted into the ACU academy.





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