Sussex and Surrey police forces are piloting a new bike accident-prevention project called the Rider Resilience Programme. The scheme, funded by the Road Safety Trust and delivered by Phoenix Motorcycle Training, is free for bikers and offers expert instruction on avoiding common errors that can lead to crashes.
Throughout March and April, Sussex and Surrey Police are trialling free rider training for local motorcyclists who have been previously injured in crashes, to help prevent future accidents. The project has been developed around the main causes of motorcycle collisions, and practical training has been designed specifically to help prevent similar accidents from re-occurring. And there are plans to roll out the programme nationwide in 2027 if its successful.
The Rider Resilience Programme requires participants to attend the DVSA center at Burgess Hill for a four-hour practical riding session conducted by Phoenix Training coaches, together with online learning modules. To be eligible, riders in the Sussex and Surrey areas must have been involved in a motorcycle collision in the last two years and be able to attend the training on their own bike.
PC Steve Bucksey from the Sussex Police Road Safety Team is leading the programme, and said: “Motorcycling offers a sense of freedom and excitement, but we recognise that collisions can happen, and when they do, the difference between a minor injury and a life-changing or fatal outcome can be incredibly small.
“We’re inviting motorcyclists in Sussex and Surrey who have been involved in a collision to join our pilot programme. This course has been developed around the main causes of motorcycle collisions, with practical training designed to help prevent them from happening again.”