Motorcycle safety

Motorcyclists make up only 1% of all traffic, but account for approximately 20% of all people killed or seriously injured in crashes. These road users are one of our high-risk groups.

They are a very vulnerable road user as they do not benefit from the safety features which most cars have such as seatbelts, airbags and being surrounded by the cars structure. They are also much smaller on the roads than other vehicles and this makes them more difficult to spot.

Take Longer to Look for Bikes

Drivers should take longer to look for bikes – just those few extra seconds to double check before pulling out of a junction could prevent a collision with a motorbike.

Be Safe, Be Seen!

Motorcyclists can help to make themselves more visible on the road by wearing high visibility clothing at all times while riding their bike – a fluorescent jacket when it is light and reflective clothing in the dark. A brightly coloured or white helmet can also help drivers to pick out motorcyclists amongst the other traffic.

There are various motorbike courses that riders can complete, including BikeSafe and advanced courses such as those through the IAM and RoSPA.

Young Riders and Protective Clothing

Many 16 year olds use mopeds and scooters as their method of transport. The majority of young people riding these bikes don’t wear enough protective clothing, especially in the warm summer months.

Wirral Road Safety Team advise that as well as a properly fitting helmet which meets all safety requirements, young people should ensure that they always wear as much protective clothing as they can when riding. Proper riding gloves, boots, jacket and trousers will give you maximum protection if the worst happens. If you cannot afford all of the protective clothing then can you afford to be riding at all?

Learning to ride

If you are considering learning to ride, you must first complete your Compulsory Basic Training (CBT). On passing this training, you are then entitled to ride on the roads as a learner rider on a motorbike up to 125cc. You must display L plates on your bike at all times. Before taking your motorbike test you must take and your theory test, including the new section on hazard awareness. When considering taking your full motorbike test you are faced with a few choices of how you wish to learn:

• You can have lessons and take your test on a 125cc motorbike. This means that when you have passed you can ride a bike with a maximum power output of 25kw / 33bhp. After 2 years your licence automatically upgrades to include bikes of all powers.
• If you are aged 21 or over, you can complete the Direct Access Scheme, whereby you learn to ride and pass your test on a motorbike of 500cc or greater and can ride any size bike when you have passed.
• Accelerated Access is an option for those who have taken their standard bike test on a 125cc motorbike, but then decide they would like to be able to ride bigger bikes. They have lessons and take their test on a bike with a 500cc engine or bigger. Failure of this test does NOT mean that your existing standard bike licence is revoked.

For further information about learning to ride, visit the Driving Standards Agency website.

The government Think website is an excellent place to find further information on a wide variety of road safety issues. You can also contact Wirral Road Safety Teams for information and advice.