On the 7th January 2026, the UK Government published its latest Road Safety Strategy, the first major update in over a decade. The strategy sets out an ambition to significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 2035. For motorcyclists, who remain one of the most vulnerable groups of road users, this marks both a welcome acknowledgement and a critical moment for real change.

Why Motorcycle Safety Needs Targeted Action

Motorcyclists make up a small proportion of road traffic, yet they are consistently over-represented in serious and fatal road collisions. This long-standing imbalance has been recognised within the new strategy, which explicitly references motorcycling rather than treating it as an afterthought.

While recognition is important, it must be followed by action. Generic road safety measures rarely address the specific risks faced by riders, such as road surface quality, visibility issues and the consequences of minor collisions that can result in life-changing injuries.

Training, Testing and Licensing Reform

One of the most significant proposals in the strategy is a planned review of motorcycle training, testing and licensing. This presents an opportunity to reassess whether the current system genuinely prepares riders for real-world conditions.

Many within the motorcycling community believe existing training places too much emphasis on passing tests, rather than developing long-term riding skills such as hazard perception, defensive riding and informed decision-making. Any reform must be evidence-led and shaped with meaningful input from rider organisations to ensure it improves safety rather than creating unnecessary barriers.

Rural Roads and Motorcycle Risk

Rural roads feature heavily in motorcycle collision statistics, and their inclusion as a focus area within the strategy is particularly relevant. Poor road surfaces, potholes, inconsistent signage and layouts designed primarily for cars can all pose serious dangers to riders.

Improving rural road safety must go beyond general maintenance. It requires infrastructure standards that take motorcycles into account from the outset, recognising that what may be a minor defect for a car can be catastrophic for a rider.

Wider Measures and Their Impact on Riders

The Road Safety Strategy also includes broader actions aimed at reducing drink and drug driving, uninsured vehicles and unsafe cars. While these measures may offer indirect benefits to motorcyclists, they are not a substitute for motorcycle-specific policies.

Without clear commitments to address rider-specific risks, there is a danger that motorcyclists will continue to bear a disproportionate share of road casualties despite overall safety improvements.

From Strategy to Meaningful Change

The British Motorcyclists Federation has welcomed the inclusion of motorcycling in the strategy but has stressed that progress will depend on delivery, not intent. Previous road safety initiatives have often failed riders due to a lack of follow-through, funding and accountability.

If this strategy is to succeed, motorcyclists must be properly represented as policies are developed and implemented, and safety outcomes must be measured against real reductions in rider injuries and fatalities.

A Call to Action

For policymakers, this is an opportunity to demonstrate that motorcycle safety is taken seriously. That means consulting rider organisations, investing in safer infrastructure and ensuring that training and licensing reforms are based on evidence rather than assumptions.

For riders, engagement matters. Responding to consultations, supporting rider advocacy groups and highlighting unsafe road conditions all help ensure that motorcyclists have a voice in shaping the policies that affect their safety.

Motorcyclists do not need symbolic recognition. They need safer roads, informed decision-making and a road safety strategy that delivers real, measurable improvements for those who travel on two wheels every day.

---

---