Last month saw the release of provisional road safety figures for 2025, which showed a 13% increase in motorcycle fatalities compared with the previous year. There are a number of factors within these numbers for the trade to consider, but riders’ rights group the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) has identified current licensing laws and poor government support for motorcycling as major areas of concern.
It points out that since the last change to motorcycle licensing rules in 2013, motorcycle deaths have increased by 16% – a startling figure given the improvements in both motorcycle safety technology and protective riding gear design. And it points out that during the previous licensing regime, deaths fell by nearly 36%, strongly suggesting that the current licensing regime is implicated in the increase in deaths.
The NMC also says that a lack of proper recognition of, and support for, motorcycling amongst politicians more generally is a factor. Ironically, authorities seem to avoid making motorcycling safer because they believe that more motorcycling will lead to more accidents. That assumption means there’s little or no investment at national or local level in improving motorcycle safety. NMC recognises that the Integrated National Transport Strategy briefly acknowledges the role of motorcycling, and that the government’s Road Safety Strategy makes some positive proposals. But points out that the new statutory guidance to local authorities for Local Transport Plans does not mention motorcycling at all in the context of local transport and access policies.
NMC executive director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “These new statistics underline the importance of the current review into motorcycle training and testing having the correct scope and to look fully at what needs to be done to evolve the current regime, rather than just making a few piecemeal changes, as much needed as these are. The stats also underline that the current approach of treating motorcycling merely as a ‘safety problem’ rather than considering the range of measures needed to support those who make motorcycle journeys simply does not work. It has meant that efforts to create a proper ‘Safe System’ for motorcycling, with measures at all policy levels to support it, have become far more difficult.
“The NMC strongly urges both central government and local authorities to think again about the current approach they have towards motorcycling and to work with motorcycling organisations and other expert stakeholders to develop national and local strategies to fully support safety and access for those who ride. This will unlock the social and mobility benefits that motorcycling, as a zero-congestion, low-polluting mode of transport, brings to individuals and wider society. The NMC and its members fully commit to supporting this work.”