Ruth Purdie OBE Supports Calls for Urgent Action on Motorcycle Safety at National Conference

“Through the National Rider Risk Awareness Course, we are providing a crucial behavioural change intervention to equip riders with the knowledge and skills to stay safe. Our goal is clear: we wish riders to be alert today, alive tomorrow.”

Those were the words of Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of UKROEd and The Road Safety Trust, speaking at Tackling Motorcycle Crashes: A Call for Action, a national motorcycle safety conference held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on 13 February.

Attended by approximately 150 industry professionals, the conference aimed to motivate, inspire and equip attendees with the tools needed to take meaningful action on motorcycle safety.

In her presentation, Ruth described the National Rider Risk Awareness Course (NRRAC), a newly developed behavioural change course within the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS). Recognising the disproportionate risk faced by powered two-wheeler riders, UKROEd has developed the course in collaboration with transport academics, police forces and road safety partners. The course offers an alternative to prosecution, focusing on identifying sources of risk and providing strategies for safer riding.

The impact of the course is already being seen, with
– 29 police forces having adopted NRRAC, with numbers continuing to grow
– a 600% increase in course attendances, ensuring that riders are placed on the right intervention

Ruth also highlighted a significant number of initiatives focused on motorcyclists which have been funded by The Road Safety Trust. For example, Project PRIME is a pioneering initiative which has transformed motorcycle safety in Scotland. By installing innovative road markings at 22 trial sites, the project has led to dramatic improvements in rider behaviour and safety on left-hand bends.

The conference showcased PRIME, amongst many other initiatives across the country. It opened with a video presentation from Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Future of Roads, who reinforced the government’s commitment to tackling the issue of motorcycle safety.

Speaking after the event, Ruth added: “Motorcycle casualties remain stubbornly high, but with the right interventions, we can make a difference. The success of NRRAC and Trust-funded initiatives such as Project PRIME shows that evidence-based solutions can lead to real change. We encourage all police forces, road safety professionals and riders themselves to engage with these initiatives and play their part in making our roads safer.”