Young motorcyclists get free coaching at Thruxton circuit in a bid to reduce road collisions

Young motorcyclists continue to make up a disproportionate amount of accidents on UK roads, which has led to the IAM RoadSmart charity introducing a new programme free of charge.  

Young riders received free expert coaching at the Thruxton race track on August 5-6, with the new programme specifically aimed at riders and drivers aged 17-26. The new ‘Skills for the Road’ scheme offered riders a chance to ride safely in a controlled environment, which was designed to build confidence and improve vehicle control. 

It also taught riders about hazard awareness, road positioning, observation skills and vehicle maintenance. Fellow charity DocBike was also on hand to offer riders additional life-saving training. 

By teaching better habits and improving road safety awareness, IAM RoadSmart is attempting to play a major role in reducing the number of accidents and deaths on British roads. This comes after recent figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) showed that young drivers are involved in around one in five serious or fatal car collisions. Meanwhile, one in ten motorcycle collisions involve an inexperienced rider.

Young male drivers aged 17 to 24 are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than drivers aged 25 and over, according to the DfT’s numbers. But these figures are just as shocking when it comes to young riders, with around 1,700 riders under the age of 25 killed or seriously injured in 2025.

IAM RoadSmart Road Safety Manager, Shaun Cronin, said this following last week’s event: 

"Ultimately, we want to make our roads safer for everyone, and our young driver and rider days are a big part of that. Young drivers and riders remain among the most vulnerable road users due to their lack of experience which is why opportunities like this matter.

“Developing confidence, awareness and good decision-making skills early in a driver's or rider's life can have a lasting impact. These sessions are about empowering the next generation to stay safe on the road, while making driving and riding more enjoyable. We hope to expand this programme in the future so that even more young people can benefit from this type of training."

The charity says it hopes to hold more events like this in the future, with an emphasis on giving young riders access to better guidance, mentoring and practical experiences.

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