Deputy Chief Constable David Griffin, ACPO Roads Policing Motorcycle Safety Lead

Welcome to the refreshed version of the National BikeSafe Website.

Over recent months we have been working hard to make accessing a BikeSafe workshop easier than ever.  I am delighted to say that in the majority of police force areas across the UK it is now possible to sign up for a BikeSafe workshop within reasonable distance of wherever you live.  We will, as in earlier years, be hosting workshops throughout the spring and summer at a venue near you.

So why should I consider signing up for a BikeSafe workshop?

Whether you passed your bike test six months ago, six years ago or, indeed, twenty-six years ago, you can always improve your levels of skill to make your riding not only safer but also more enjoyable.  As the police lead for motorcycle safety on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers, I sometimes come in for flack as being somehow ‘anti-biker’.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I, and the several hundred colleagues who are involved in BikeSafe, are all bikers ourselves.  We love biking but, sadly, one of the biggest downsides to our job is that we see the consequences all too often of where riders, irrespective of their level of experience, find themselves involved in serious crashes.  The plain facts are that the majority of these crashes are avoidable and all too often involve basic errors of judgement being made by the rider.  Our aim is a simple one and that is to reduce the unacceptably high rate of power two-wheeler casualties on the roads of the UK.  BikeSafe has a real contribution to make in fulfilling that objective.

BikeSafe is not a training scheme because whilst advanced police riders are some of the safest drivers on the road, we are not in the business of delivering training to members of the public.  We do, however, through our BikeSafe workshops, provide detailed briefing on hazard awareness and how to make your motorcycling safer, followed up in most forces by an on-road assessed ride.   Under the eagle-eye of an experienced BikeSafe assessor you will receive detailed one-to-one feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of your riding.  We wont pull our punches in our review of your riding because it is not in our interests to do so.   The crucial next step after having had your assessment is to go on to undertake further training from the range of organisations that provide post test training up and down the UK.  Our workshops will provide you with details on how and where to find this.

You will find at BikeSafe workshops that you are sitting alongside like minded biking enthusiasts with a wide range of experience, skills and different machines.  Whether you are on a commuter bike, scooter or a sports bike, you are equally welcome and will benefit from one of our workshops.  Whilst the subject matter is a serious one, they are designed to be enjoyable and inter-active and we always get very positive feedback from those who have undertaken one of our workshops.

If you are looking at this website as someone who has a motorcyclist or scooter rider in your family, then why not take advantage of our recently introduced gift vouchers as the ideal present for someone you care about and who you want to enjoy their riding safely?

Our workshops are overseen by very experienced police motorcyclists and I am very grateful to them as many give up a great deal of their own time as volunteers to make BikeSafe the success that it is.  So, go on, why not click on a police force area near you and sign up for a workshop now? 

Safe biking!









David Griffin
ACPO Motorcycling Safety Lead