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Riders facing threat of 'institutional bias'
A major report into motorcycling in the UK has identified such 'institutional bias' against the vehicles that it is hindering the adoption of safer systems of traffic management and costing lives.
The report, by the government's Advisory Group on Motorcycling, claims the bias is wide-spread and can be found in local authorities, employers, regional government, educational bodies, and environmental and safety pressure groups.
"The danger of such bias is a failure to include PTWs (powered two wheelers) in Local Transport Plans or Business Travel Plans, for example, or to adapt infrastructure to assist PTWs," the report says.
"The Group believes that all bodies with an interest in motorcycling should seek to remedy this bias."
The report points out that the UK government's recent White Paper on the Future of Transport had found that mopeds and motorbikes could provide an alternative means of transport for many trips and would help solve urban traffic and environmental problems if more were used. However progress on those fronts will be hindered until safety issues are tackled.
The report said in Britain while PTWs made up just 1% of road traffic, users of PTWs suffered around 18% of deaths and serious injuries. It found PTW users were the most vulnerable of all road users. Those using them were 30 times more likely to be killed than people in a car and 4 times more likely to be killed than a cyclist.
The report puts forward 38 recommendations - plus 16 "suggestions" - including the idea of lowering Vehicle Excise Duty for the riders who take advanced diving courses. Among the recommendations are:
- The introduction of a "hard hitting" and sustained awareness campaign aimed at improving motorcyclists' abilities to negotiate junctions, corner, and over-take. Plus a similar campaign aimed at motorists.
- Include motorcycle awareness questions in motorist driving tests.
- Encourage motorbikes to be fitted with advanced braking systems.
- Order a review of all types of PTWs to assess rearward vision.
- Allow PTWs to use bus-only lanes.
