TfL, the Met Police and Campaign Groups reach out to motorcyclists following five recent fatalities
16 motorcyclists have already lost their lives this year
Transport for London (TfL), the Metropolitan Police and campaign groups have joined forces in reaching out to motorcyclists following the tragic deaths of five young men in collisions while motorcycling on London's streets in the last few days. The five collisions happened in Haringey, Croydon, Harrow, Hillingdon and Richmond, bringing the total number of people who have been killed while riding a motorcycle this year to 16, compared to 11 at this time in 2018. Three other people have also been killed in collisions in the last week, one car driver, a person cycling and another killed while walking.
TfL and the Metropolitan Police are also working with campaign groups to raise awareness of the work being done to reduce dangerous driving, lower speed limits and publicise the range of motorcycle training courses now on offer. TfL is keen to urgently work with Department for Transport to improve the licensing system for moped and motorcycle riders in order to make our streets safer for all road users and prevent unnecessary deaths. Improvements could include a requirement for pre-compulsory basic training (CBT), new training for motorcycle instructors and a two day CBT. The measures are part of TfL and The Mayor's Vision Zero approach to eliminating death and serious injury from collisions on the capital's roads by 2041. Figures show that motorcycle riders and their passengers accounted for 17 per cent of serious injuries and 20 per cent of all road fatalities in the capital during 2018, despite making up just one per cent of road traffic. Figures nationally also show that motorcyclists are 55 times more likely to be killed, and 81 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on British roads than car drivers. Stuart Reid, Director of Vision Zero at TfL, said: "It has been a tragic week for road fatalities. We need everyone in London, regardless of how you're travelling, to take more care on the roads and be aware of the people around you. "We're reducing road danger for motorcyclists and all other road users in London, by making junctions safer, working with the police to enforce dangerous driving, lowering speed limits and offering a range of motorcycle and cycle training courses, but we really need everyone to play a role."
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