MINISTRY OF DEFENCE POLICE

‘BIKESAFE’

"Welcome to the Ministry of Defence Police Bikesafe webpage. Our force is now a member of the National Police 'Bikesafe' scheme joining our colleagues from most British Police forces to promote safe and responsible riding. 

We are in partnership with the Hampshire Constabulary who are able to provide an on-road riding assessment in the Hampshire and the Isle of wight area.

The Bikesafe scheme consists of an interactive learning package followed by a riding assessment. I am prepared to come to any MOD establishment by mutual arrangement to deliver the classroom package which I hope will be enjoyable,informative and thought provoking.

For more information have a look on the MOD intranet - www.transportsafety.dii.r.mil.uk  hover over the word organisation, drop down menu and click on defence road safety."

In 2005 14 Servicemen lost their lives whilst riding privately owned motorcycles which represents 29% of the total (41) fatal off duty crashes. In 2006 that situation got worse and we lost 20 bikers, again all Servicemen. So far we have lost 5 bikers already in 2007 and the biking season for most has not even started. WO1 (SSM) John SWAIN RLC (Vehicle Accident Trend Investigator) Defence Road Safety Report 2006 : “ I have researched the circumstances of these deaths and against the current national statistics of who is to blame for motorcycle accidents (biker or other motorist), our ratio of 75% Service biker, to 25% other motorist, is higher than our civilian counterparts.

You may assume that our servicemen were young and inexperienced riders? Actually the average age was 32, with the oldest rider in their 50s.

So were they classic risk takers who got things wrong or were they unlucky on the day? In many of these accidents no other vehicles were involved with riders losing control whilst overtaking and hitting street furniture (lamp posts etc). The Coroners report will tell the complete story in the fullness of time”