Serious injury lawyer looks at the manifesto designed to improve biker safety

I’ve read with interest the National Motorcyclists Council's Motorcycling Matters manifesto, setting out a pathway for policy to “unlock the benefits that motorcycling brings to the future of transport”.

Of particular relevance to me were the recommendations for biker safety. As a lawyer who specialises in supporting bikers and their families in the aftermath of life-changing crashes, I daily see the devastation of collisions involving bikers. I'm personally invested in biker safety too. Having ridden motorbikes for almost 20 years, I'm acutely conscious of how vulnerable you are on a bike. 

Proposals to reduce rider vulnerability

I agree with the manifesto’s proposals to “Reduce Rider Vulnerability”.  These include:-

• Updating roads infrastructure design guidelines for motorcycles.
• Motorcycling must also fully benefit from investment in ‘Vision Zero’ and ‘Safe Systems’ measures.
• Cancelling the smart motorways roll out and evaluate the performance of existing smart motorways
• Address the dangers caused by poor road maintenance and potholes.

Responsibility to keep vulnerable road users safe

Too many bikers are killed or seriously injured because of other road users, however. While improved road design may assist here, for example, the manifesto does not sufficiently highlight the importance of other road users’ responsibilities for bikers’ safety. 

According to data from the Department for Transport, 42% of biker fatalities occurred within 20 metres of a junction and the most common factor being the other motorist having failed to look properly. In 2022, 350 bikers were killed on our roads. Applying this, could 147 lives be saved if people had simply looked properly?

Highway Code hierarchy

The 2022 Highway Code changes have already enshrined the new hierarchy of road users. This established in rule H1 that “those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.”

I fear, however, that the Highway Code changes were simply not publicised enough. A consistent campaign of messaging, building on the #ThinkBike campaign, is required to instil the importance of taking greater care on our roads. 

Conclusion

I applaud the National Motorcyclists Council manifesto and hope that the new government acts upon their recommendations. However, if we’re to see motorbikes as a part of our future transport network, I consider much more needs to be done to address the dangers bikers face.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting people and families affected by collisions on our roads at our dedicated road traffic accidents section.

More information on the manifesto can be found online.