BMF NEWS ROUND UP – November 2024
The monthly news round-up, brought to you by the BMF
Meetings attended for the BMF by Paul Morgan and Anna Zee in November.
- The Government has unveiled its vision for a National Integrated Transport Strategy in England
The Department for Transport has this week set out the Government’s vision for an Integrated National Transport Strategy, built on a “people first” approach to transport to make all forms of transport “work together better.” A “Call for Ideas” has been launched supported by a number of planned regional roadshows to gather feedback and ideas from the general public and relevant organisations to inform the new strategy. BMF members can make their views known via the DfT website by 30 January 2025. The BMF will be taking the opportunity to work with Ministers and officials to ensure that motorcycling is placed front and centre of a future, affordable and sustainable government transport strategy, given the significant benefits motorcycling has to offer; with motorcycling offering reduced congestion, shorter journey times and a lower polluting transport option as part of an integrated and sustainable future transport solution.
- The Department of Transport has announced that following the recent public consultation, to which BMF provided a detailed and considered response, it will not proceed with plans to grant motorcycles and mopeds default access to bus lanes, despite overwhelming public and stakeholder support. Decisions on bus lane access for motorcycles will instead remain at local level with Local Authorities.
Despite the fact that the 98% of individual respondents (13,885 out of 14,089) and 93% of stakeholder organisations (185 out of 198) supported default access for motorcycles to bus lanes, the Government has rejected the proposed measure and added that it has “no policy to encourage greater uptake of motorcycles” as part of its current policy agenda. The BMF’s view is that this a missed opportunity by the Government to significantly improve the safety of motorcyclists across the UK’s road network. The BMF has lodged a Freedom of Information request to obtain further details behind the Government’s decision and will now consider this issue in consultation with our key partner the National Motorcyclist’s Council with a view to formulating a detailed and comprehensive response to the decision. BMF Members may wish to contact their local MPs to raise their concerns that Ministers have shown a complete lack of support for strategic motorcycling policies by ruling out a measure that could contribute notably to motorcycle safety and reverse the continuing unacceptable number of motorcycle KSI incidents.
- The NMC/BMF have responded to the Call for Evidence launched by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee regarding the current state of England’s roads.
The National Motorcyclists Council (NMC)/BMF submitted response to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee has highlighted that the current condition of England’s, and the wider UK’s, road network is completely unacceptable and getting worse, and represents a real risk to motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users. NMC/BMF have pressed for urgent action now to put in place an effective and fully funded programme of road maintenance across England’s road network and to clear the outstanding backlog of road surface and pothole repairs. This programme of work needs to be underpinned by an agreed standard for repairs, a further standard for subsequent inspection and with complete transparency and annual reporting on the repairs undertaken in line with the “Pothole Partnership’s” published 5-point plan.
- Motorcycle Focus Group Meeting
Attendees:
Transport Scotland, Police Scotland, Motorcyclist Organisations (NMC, BMF, MAG), Motorcycle Law Scotland.
The meeting was attended by Paul Morgan CBE on behalf of the BMF and Craig Carey-Clinch representing the NMC.
The main focus of discussion at the meeting was on motorcyclist collision and casualty statistics. There was concern that 2024 fatalities had increased on 2023 numbers.
Police Scotland provided an update on motorcyclist casualty statistics across Scotland. There had been 27 fatalities (25 riders and 2 pillion) YTD in 2024, compared to 26 fatalities for the same period in 2023. Tragically, 4 motorcyclists had been killed recently on one day within a 45-minute period.
Transport Scotland gave an overview of traffic collisions involving motorcyclists across Scotland between 2020 and 2023 when there had been 1836 motorcycle collisions and 98 motorcyclist fatalities. Main contributory factors were “loss of control”, “poor turn (particularly when turning right at junctions), “motorcyclist failed to look properly” (particularly when overtaking) and “other vehicle failed to look properly” (particularly at junctions and when pulling out of side roads).
There was a wide-ranging discussion regarding the figures and what needed to be done to reduce motorcycle collisions and fatalities. Motorcycle group attendees made the point that “loss of control” didn’t provide a reason for the relevant accident/fatality. There needed to be more detail on the “primary causation” factor. Something caused the motorcyclist to lose control, whether that was the behaviour of another vehicle, poor road surface, contaminant on road, high speed etc. More detail was needed to understand what had happened to enable this to be fed into training and road safety programmes.
The Motorcyclist groups, including the BMF, NMC, MAG and Motorcycle Law Scotland made the point that the poor standard of driving and road behaviour by other motorists, including SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I Didn’t See You) accidents, was not being properly addressed. Many car and HGV drivers didn’t understand, or didn’t apply, the “hierarchy of road users” Highway Code guidance and were not looking out for motorcyclists. Official information campaigns targeting other drivers, improvements to the driving test and better police enforcement needed to be a priority. Police Scotland requested that the motorcycle groups engage with them to help formulate their future road safety campaigns.
- National Young Riders Forum (NYRF) meeting
The meeting was attended by Paul Morgan CBE on behalf of the BMF. The BMF was welcomed to the NYRF as a new member; a move that will bring together the knowledge and expertise of both organisations, alongside other expert representatives from the motorcycle and safety arenas, to improve the safety of young motorcyclists, who remain the most vulnerable of UK road users. The NYRF brings together members with a wealth of experience from all corners of the road casualty reduction sector, including leading motorcyclist organisations and representatives from Local Authority Road Safety Teams, Safer Road Partnerships, UK Police Forces, Fire & Rescue and the DVSA.
At the meeting amongst a number of updates from members, Heidi Duffy gave an update on the “View from the Saddle” project, a series of 20 road hazard videos focusing on young riders that is currently under production. A series of 6 NYRF Highway Code Films for young riders are already available to view on the NYRF website. The Police gave an update on Project Apex, the motorbike simulator, that has been touring the country and which we hope to have at the BMF Connected Event being held at Mallory Park next July. A survey of young riders supporting the “Young Lives Matter” Project has been launched (link available on the BMF website) with the chance of winning a Sharp approved helmet for completed entries. The Road Safety GB (RSGB) Motorcycle Conference is to be held at the Motorcycle Museum Birmingham on 13 February 2025. The registration process to attend is currently open. And finally, the NMC and NMDA Parliamentary Reception will take place next week on 4 December with c. 45 attendees, including MPs, government officials and representatives from motorcycle rider organisations and industry at which the NMC Policy Document “Motorcycling and The Future of Transport: A Sustainable Future Transport Solution” will be officially launched.
- Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety Council of Members Meeting (PACTS)
The meeting took place at the House of Lords and was attended by Anna Zee, BMF Political and Technical Services Director and Paul Morgan CBE on behalf of the BMF with over 50 members in attendance. Under the theme of “The UK’s influence on global road safety 3 key note speakers gave an update on the UK’s ongoing role in promoting road safety globally, including in developing countries. The UK has a key role to play in harmonizing global standards and exchanging best practice on road safety with global partners and is well placed to play a strong leadership role in road safety delivery. Next year’s Fourth Global Ministerial Conference to be held in Marrakech on 18 and 19 February 2025 will provide government delegates with an opportunity to assess progress made in implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-30 during its first five-year period, and to generate support for the new vision of safe and sustainable mobility supported by commitments for investment in and implementation of evidence-based interventions that will save lives and protect people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic accidents and that road traffic injuries remain the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.
- Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group
This meeting was notable for having several participants from the Metropolitan Police.
Crime recording
For a long time, vehicle crime statistics have been distorted by under-reporting. Two factors have been that a) theft from e.g. the garage is recorded as burglary even if a vehicle is stolen and b) a vehicle stolen but recovered within 24 hours has usually not been recorded on the Police National Computer (PNC).
With respect to burglary any stolen vehicle should be listed as part of the burglary record and added to the list of stolen vehicles. With respect to PNC updates, part of the problem has been that updates from local records to the PNC have been 5 days a week operation. This upload process is intended to become 7 days a week operation.
Identification
One officer in the Met is their specialist in identifying recovered vehicles regularly reviews sales on social media. Identification is not always easy; out of a group of 23 bikes recovered it has only been possible to confirm the identity of 5. It has become easier to identify newer bikes where the VIN has been downloaded to the ECU.
Apparently at least some manufacturers are not stamping identity numbers into the metal as deep as they used to. This means that if the original number is ground off and another number stamped over it, it is usually impossible to get back the original number by any means. Machines for stamping numbers into metal are available for about £10,000.
Rules about sale of V5s
There seems to some disagreement about how much of a bike needs to sold with a V5. We had understood it should be at least 5 main components, i.e. not just the frame, according to a rule laid down by the DVLA. However, someone at the meeting had been told by the DVLA that this rule had been written for kit cars and did not apply to other vehicles. This will be followed up.
Insurance
Outside of London about 20% of the premium is based on the risk of theft. In London it can be as much as 80%. Fraudulent claims are increasing.
LONDON PARKING CHARGES UPDATE
Save London Motorcycling, which is fighting Hackney Council’s proposal to charged powered two-wheelers for parking, has set up a Just Giving page to help fund its legal case – this goes to court on 23rd January 2025. The Council plans to charge residents’ motorcycles exactly the same as cars, from between £50 a year for electric to £596 a year for some petrol bikes, and business permits up to £1560! Commuters would pay up to £10 for all-day parking.
Hounslow Council has also announced plans to charge bikes, but has agreed to a meeting with Save London Motorcycling.
Camden Council is consulting on new parking charges – anyone living or working in Camden should remind Councillors and MP that riders are opposed to these charges.
To contribute to Save London Motorcycling’s legal fund: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/slmc
In Other News:
Royal Enfield is resurrecting the ‘Flying Flea,’ a nickname for the little 125cc parachute bikes used by paratroopers in World War II. The company is launching a new range of small electric motorcycles, starting with a 125-equivalent in 2026.
Gift a motorcycle and save lives – that’s the message of sister charities Riders for Health and Two Wheels for Life. They provide 100 and 125cc bikes, complete with kit and training, for health workers in Africa to visit remote villages, and are inviting individuals and companies to ‘buy a bike’ for this life-saving work – £1400 will buy a new Yamaha AG100, specially adapted for the job.
Meanwhile, Watsonian-Squire has launched an affordable sidecar outfit. The Midlands-based sidecar manufacturer is offering a Benelli Imperale 400 plus SB1 chair for the all-in price of £7999 (with an extra 500 quid off for a limited period). They add that the sidecar is easily detachable if you feel like riding solo.
And finally, ‘bagger racing’ could be coming to MotoGP. Better known as King of the Baggers, this is a US race series which pits fully equipped touring Harleys, complete with fairings and panniers, against each other on track. Already popular in the States, it could transfer to Europe after an agreement was signed by Harley-Davidson and MotoGP organiser Dorna. Stranger things have happened – look at American politics…
Written by
Peter Henshaw – Editor BMF editor@bmf.co.uk
Anna Zee – Political Technical Services Director anna.zee@bmf.co.uk
Paul Morgan – Government Relations Executive paul.morgan@bmf.co.uk
