ACCIDENT STATISTICS released by Warwickshire Road Safety Unit have prompted the county into launching a rider safety training initiative for young and inexperienced moped and motorcycle riders.
In a joint initiative, Warwickshire together with, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin have recently re-launched the Take Control rider training scheme - three of the five courses available are tailored to meet the needs of young riders.
‘CBT Plus’ is an ideal follow on from Compulsory Basic Training, whilst ‘Auto to Gears’ helps moped riders to progress to riding geared 125cc bikes. The ‘125 Rider Development’ course is a half-day session for riders new to 125cc bikes who are keen to develop their riding skills.
Warwickshire Road Safety Unit's findings were compiled from every reported road traffic injury collision over a two year period shows more than a third of all mopeds and motorcycles involved in injury collisions involved riderss under the age of 21 years.
The report also highlighted the fact that 20 per cent of collisions, where moped and motorcycle riders were considered most blameworthy, were attributed to learner or inexperienced riders.
Nearly a quarter of all fatal or serious injury collisions on the county's roads involved a moped or motorcycle rider, but no other vehicle.
Road Safety Officer, Stephen Rumble said:
“Moped and motorcycle riders are always going to be at greater risk because bikes afford them no or very little protection compared to other vehicles. But our research clearly shows that young and inexperienced riders, particularly males aged 16 to 20, still represent a disproportionately large number of Warwickshire’s casualties."
For more information, go to www.takecontroltraining.co.uk
