In a recent Transport for London roundtable event for motorcycle & roads safety meeting, it was announced that the number of fatal motorcycle accidents in 2021 has taken a dramatic drop, by as much as 60% in provisional figures.
Despite figures still needing to be officially finalised, it looks like it has been the best year on record for the capital according to the provisional numbers.
The meeting was attended by a number of motorcycling organisations, including BMF (British Motorcyclists Federation), MAG (Motorcycle Action Group), Keith Prince (GLA, MAG member & Assembly Member), Dave Bottomley (MET Sergeant & BikeSafe), TfL officials and other key groups.
Interestingly, it appears that despite a very welcome drop in fatal accidents, nobody is entirely sure what the leading reasoning is for a drop in accidents - with the likely explanation being a multitude of factors.
TfL also proposed a number of road safety innovations at the meeting, with their chief concerns centring around those with limited training (CBT riders) and delivery & courier riders.
Some safety innovations put forward were opposed by rider representatives in attendance, but others were largely welcomed - particularly the proposal to include motorcyclists in the overall design guidelines as cyclists.
It is, of course, hoped that the number of fatalities on London roads will continue to fall, and the first steps to achieving these targets are made in the planning stages, as in these meetings.
Keith Prince, Deputy Chair of the GLA Transport Committee, as quoted in the MAG release:
“I’m impressed with the dramatic fall in motorcycle deaths in London last year. The officers committed to working with the London riding community to further understand the reasons for this welcome improvement, plus engaging with the delivery rider sector on safety issues, and treating all two-wheeler users fairly and without discrimination.
Overall, this meeting was results-orientated in a very tangible way.”
London roads appear to be getting safer for motorcyclists
Great news overall - and perhaps, amongst other reasons, the reduction of speed limits in the city centre to 20mph is playing a large role in keeping vulnerable road users safe.
Other possibilities are the overall reduction in traffic in the past two years, with a greater number of Londoners working from home, the Highway Code being penned for updates with a new hierarchy of road users, and stricter entry to the capital for some vehicles that is cited under emissions regulations.
In any case, long may it continue.
