Mopeds, motorbikes and scooters, also known as Powered Two-Wheelers’or P2Ws, are very popular with teenagers as a means of independent travel. Unfortunately, riders aged 16 –19 feature highly in accident statistics. These collisions are often caused by inexperience.
P2W education in schools
Our road safety officers can visit your school to educate students on driving P2Ws. This presentation covers essential topics such as:
- Speeding
- Taking risks
- Poor overtaking
- Riding with friends
- Protective clothing
- Taking additional on-road training.
Students are also shown photos and film clips of collisions and watch an account of a crash by a young amputee. These images and videos are powerful tools and have a very sobering effect.
This course does not aim to deter young people from riding P2Ws. Wherever possible, positive messages are given, such as being more independent and having an opportunity to gain useful road experience before learning to drive. However, it is important that all riders are made aware of the possible consequences of the choices they make, as well as their responsibilities, not only to themselves, but to other road users, too.
Approximately 1,300 students receive this talk each year, and we are confident that they take vital information from our visit and consider seriously the importance of safety when riding.
Additionally, students who are already riding are given the opportunity to spend a day with Metropolitan Police motorcyclists on a BikeSafe/ScooterSafe course. This provides them with practical advice, as well as additional on-road experience under supervision, which enables them to become safer and more confident.
Rider assessments and training
BikeSafe is a national police run motorcycle initiative, aimed at working with motorcycle riders in a relaxed environment to raise awareness of the importance and value of progressing on to accredited post-test training. BikeSafe workshops involve an observed ride with a police graded motorcyclist or approved BikeSafe observer. With some local variation, BikeSafe workshops aim to cover: attitude, observation, cornering, overtaking, filtering, junctions, group riding, hazard awareness and the system of motorcycle.
For more information about BikeSafe workshops visit the BikeSafe website