3 Motorcycling

● 585 motorcyclists were killed on Britain’s roads in 2004(almost 20% of all road deaths)

● Between 1993 and 2003 motorcycle traffic grew by 49% compared to an increase of 19% for other road traffic.

Discussion PointsWhy has motorcycling become more popular in recentyears? What are its advantages and disadvantagescompared with driving a car? Discuss how its benefits canbe balanced against the risks involved.

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ActivitiesContact your Local Authority Road Safety Departmentfor information on moped and motorcycle casualtiesin your area over the last 5 years. Analyse the datato identify who is involved (age and gender ofmotorcyclist; other road users), and when andwhere the crashes occur (type of road, speed limit,time of day, period of the year).

Did you know?

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Activities�Access the national motorcycle casualtystatistics in ‘Road Casualties Great Britain2004’. Identify the same information asyou did for the local data. Are there anydifferences?

Identify the main type of crashesmotorcyclists tend to have and theircauses for different types of rider. (seeUseful Links and Useful Publications).Present your findings in a report, withspreadsheets, tables, graphs and charts.

From your findings, identify the besttarget group for an education campaign,stating your reasons. Create a (local ornational) publicity campaign for your

target group to raise their awareness ofthe risks they face and to provide adviceon how they can reduce those risks.

● Write and design a leaflet● Create a poster● Write scripts for 40, 30 and 20

second radio ads.

Decide whether the campaign willaddress a specific issue (e.g. riders onlarger bikes losing control on bends onrural roads, or scooter riders being hit bycars at junctions in towns) or a generalissue (e.g. the need for continuingtraining).

Did you know?● There are around 1.52 million motorcycles

in Great Britain● In 2003, in Great Britain 2.7% of

households owned a motorcycle.

Discussion PointSince Congestion Charging was introduced in the centreof London, motorcycle use in London has increased, butmotorcycle casualties have decreased (see UsefulPublications). Discuss the possible reasons for this.

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ActivitiesUsing information from the DriverInformation and Vehicle Information sectionsof the DVLA Website, www.dvla.gov.uk,

create a leaflet for new motorcycleowners to explain their legal obligations and responsibilities.

Did you know?In a crash, motorcyclistsare 30 times more likelyto be killed than carusers.

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In a pair or small group, complete thetwo practice Motorcycle Theory Testsat www.dsa.gov.uk/mockpaper/theoryintro.htm. Discuss your answersand compare your results with otherpairs/groups.Using the Highway Code, design yourown multiple choice MotorcycleTheory Test for learner motorcyclists.Try it out on the group/class.

Design a TheoryTest or a quiz toassess theknowledge andawareness oflearner driversabout the needsand vulnerability of motorcyclists.

Activities�

Activities�● Whether or not it would reduce

motorcyclist casualties, and why● Its advantages and disadvantages

(consider economic, social, culturaland environmental implications)

● Whether it exists in any othercountry, any evidence about itseffectiveness in that country (use thisto support or oppose the measure).

In your pair/small group prepare apresentation using visual aids. Presentthis to the rest of the class, showing thecase for and against the measure thatyou have investigated (perhaps oneperson could present the case for andanother the case against).

MeasuresMinimum Riding AgeRaise the minimum riding age to18 years (it’s currently 16 years toride a moped and 17 years to ride amotorcycle).

Restrictions onMotorcycle SizeRestrict all new riders to amaximum motorcycle size (e.g. 33bhp) for two years afterpassing their Test.

Motorcycle Lessons forLearner Car DriversRequire learner car drivers to betaken on a motorcycle during theirlearning period so they gain anappreciation of the motorcyclist’spoint of view.

Minimum Amountof ExperienceRequire learners to complete a LogBook while learning to show thatthey have gained a minimum levelof riding experience in differentdriving situations (e.g. at night, inthe rain, on dual carriageways).

Minimum Learning PeriodSet a minimum learning period –learners would have to take aminimum number of lessonsbefore being able to take themotorcycle test.

Pass Plus for MotorcyclistsThe Pass Plus Scheme(www.passplus.org.uk) is agood way for new drivers togain some extra instructionafter passing their test.Provide a similar scheme for new motorcyclists – make itcompulsory?

In a pair/small group, pick one of the measures below. Use the findingsfrom your research about motorcyclist crashes to consider: Open up a debate on the issue

with the class and then take avote on whether the measureshould be introduced.

Go on to discuss how you wouldbring about a change, either in thelaw or social attitude or both, tointroduce the measure in thiscountry.

DiscussionPoint

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Activities�Example Motorcycle Specifications

There are many different types of motorcycle.Study the different designs and features. Whichwould you use and how would you put themtogether to create:

1. Your ultimate bike2. The safest bike possible

Produce a Specification Sheet for each one showingthe type of motorbike and the features you want.Consider safety features such as airbags, brakes,daytime running lights, etc.

Use the Useful Links section and/or asearch engine to find the websitesof motorcycle manufacturers– they usually havespecification sheets fortheir motorcycles to giveyou an idea of what toinclude.

Discuss the differencesand similarity in thedesigns.

Engine Type 4 stroke single cylinder

Capacity 125cc

Bore/Stroke 52 x 58.6mm

Ignition Electrical

Max Power 10.36Kw @ 8.750rpm

Max Torque 11.33Nm @ 6,500rpm

Front Brakes Disc Ø267mm

Rear Brakes Disc Ø240mm

Clutch Automatic centrifugal

Front Tyre 120/70 – 15

Rear Tyre 140/70 – 4

Fuel Capacity 12.5 litres

Activities�In a crash, motorcyclists don’t have theprotection of a car’s body and seat beltso they are more likely to be injured.For this reason, motorcyclists have towear a helmet and are recommendedto wear protective clothing. Researchthe different types of helmets andclothing available to motorcycle users –use the Useful Links section and/or asearch engine to find websitesfeaturing motorcycle clothing.

Design your own item of protective clothing; itcould be a jacket, trousers, a one-piece suit,gloves or boots. Produce a Design Briefshowing the specifications, such as the type ofinjury the garment is meant to protect thewearer from (for example, impact or abrasionor both), the materials that will be used andhow practical and comfortable it will need tobe. Don’t forget to consider cost.

Present your design to the class/group.

© The Royal Society for the Prevention of AccidentsEdgbaston Park, 353 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7STTelephone: 0870 777 2171/0121 248 2000Fax: 0870 777 2199/0121 248 2001

Registered Charity No. 207823VAT Registration No. 655 1316 49 www.rospa.com

Useful Links

RoSPAwww.rospa.com (Click on ‘road safety’, then‘Motorcycling’)www.rospa.com/drivertrainingwww.roada.org

British Motorcyclists Federationwww.bmf.co.uk

Department for Transportwww.dft.gov.uk(Click on ‘Road Safety’, then ‘Driver andRider Safety’, then ‘Cyclists andMotorcyclists’)

Motorcycle Action Groupwww.mag-uk.org

Driving Standards Agency www.dsa.gov.uk (Click on ‘Bike Riders’) www.ask-what-if.com (Click on ‘WhatIf? for Motorcyclists’)

Motor Cycle Industry Associationwww.mcia.co.uk

Motorcycle Retailers Associationwww.rmif.co.uk

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agencywww.dvla.gov.uk (Click on ‘Driver Information’ and/or‘Vehicle Information’)

Motorcycle Rider Training Associationwww.rmif.co.uk

Road Safety Campaign Scotlandwww.road-safety.org.uk (Click on ‘Road Users’,then ‘Motorcyclists’)

Bikesafewww.bikesafe.org.uk

Pass Plus Schemewww.passplus.org.uk

National Motorcycle Councilwww.despatch.co.uk/nmc/nmchome.htm

Handle It or Lose Itwww.handleitorloseit.com

Twist and Go 4 Itwww.twistandgo4it.com

The Road Safety Department at yourlocal authority

Useful Publications

(If the direct links are not working,follow the instructions in brackets tofind the publications)

Road Casualties Great Britain 2004(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on‘Transport Statistics’, then ‘Statistics,then ‘Transport Accidents andCasualties’ and then ‘Road CasualtiesGreat Britain’)

The Government’s Motorcycling Strategy(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on ‘Roadsand Vehicles’, then ‘Vehicles’, then‘Motorcycling’ and then ‘TheGovernment’s Motorcycling Strategy’)

Compendium of Motorcycling Statistics(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on‘Transport Statistics’, then ‘Statistics,then ‘Vehicles’, then ‘Publications’ andthen ‘Compendium of MotorcyclingStatistics’)

Advisory Group on Motorcycling Final Report(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Cycling and Motorcycling’and then ‘Driver and Rider Safety’Advisory Group on Motorcycling Final Report’)

In-depth Study of MotorcycleAccidents(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Research’, then ‘RoadSafety Research Reports, then‘Statistical Analysis, Accident Causationand Policy Monitoring’ and then ‘In-depth Study of Motorcycle Accidents’)

The Older Motorcyclist(Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Research’, then ‘RoadSafety Research Reports, then ‘Driverand Rider Behaviour’ and then ‘TheOlder Motorcyclist’)

Scoping Study on Motorcycle Training (Go to www.dft.gov.uk, click on ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Research’, then ‘RoadSafety Research Reports, then ‘Driverand Rider Behaviour’ and then ‘ScopingStudy on Motorcycle Training’)

Differences Between LondonMotorcyclists and Those From the Restof the UK(Go to www.tfl.gov.uk/streets and clickon ‘Initiatives and Safety’, then ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Report Library’ and then‘Differences Between LondonMotorcyclists and Those From the Restof the UK’)

Powered Two Wheeler Casualties inGreater London(Go to www.tfl.gov.uk/streets and clickon ‘Initiatives and Projects’, then ‘RoadSafety’, then ‘Report Library’ and then‘Powered Two Wheeler Casualties inGreater London’)

Motorcyclist Accidents and Casualtiesin Scotland 1992 – 2002(Go to www.road-safety.org.uk and click on‘Research’ and then ‘CompletedResearch’ and then ‘MotorcyclistAccidents and Casualties in Scotland’)

Common Motorcyclist Crashes andHow To Avoid Them (Go to www.rospa.com, click on ‘RoadSafety’ , click on ‘Motorcycling’ andclick on ‘Ride Safe: How you can avoidthe 5 most common motorcyclecrashes’)

The Highway Codewww.highwaycode.gov.uk

l Useful Links and Publications