No more excuses: MCIA boss tells Government to make biking safer

The boss of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), has called for a major shake-up on motorcycle safety.

Tony Campbell, CEO of Britain’s leading motorcycle industry body, was speaking at the National Road Safety Conference, which included delegates from Government and the wider industry, and noted that while powered two-wheelers (PTWs) constitute only 1% of traffic, they account for 20% of fatalities, a statistic, he said, that “should not be accepted as the norm”.

In urging the Government to act, he quoted Einstein by stating: “The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again but expecting different results.”

Commenting after his speech, the MCIA boss said: “Instead of basing policy decisions solely on past concerns, the Government needs to adopt a forward-thinking approach in a way that anticipates the future traffic mix.

“Rather than being a reason to disregard our vehicles, their safety track record should serve as motivation to liberate and optimise their viability as a sustainable mode of mobility for the future. It is only through industry and the Government working together that we can ensure a safer future for motorcycling.”

Back in 2022, the MCIA launched the Elite Rider Programme, which has since seen an estimated 14% of full licence holders complete Advanced Rider Training.

Alongside safety, he also asked the Government to match the motorcycle industry’s efforts in promoting two-wheelers as a greener transport solution.

In October, the MCIA launched their ‘A Licence to Net Zero’ campaign that highlighted bikes’ green credentials but also proposed wide-ranging changes to the current licensing structure.