Britain’s riders are getting safer

Despite pessimistic police predictions, the latest Government figures show how Britain’s roads are getting safer for motorcyclists.

For more on this story, don’t miss the latest issue of MCN – out Wednesday, June 26.

Last year saw a four per cent drop in the number of riders killed in the UK. But that was in stark contrast to the figures for drivers, which rose by five per cent and contrasted sharply with the rise in rider fatalities anticipated by some police authorities. A notion which led some forces to launch heavy-handed clampdowns on riders.

And the latest Government figures again throw into doubt the effectiveness of speed cameras as safety aids since their use across the country ballooned in 2001.

Campaigners now hope the news that riders’ deaths have fallen could help block any anti-biking legislation.

The BMF’s Richard Olliffe said: ” I know the industry has been worried about these figures showing a continuing rise, because it’s hard to defend biking if that happens.

” But this shows that we have been listening to advice about riding safely and frankly I don’t feel we get congratulated enough – we deserve a pat on the back. ”

For a full breakdown of these statistics, click on to: www.transtat.dft.gov.uk/tables/2002/rcas/pdf/rcas01.pdf Do you think Britain’s roads are getting safer? Should we be calling for more traffic police and fewer cameras? Click on the link on the right and tell us.