Moped deaths 'a forgotten issue', says IAM
Saturday, 9 May 2009
A new IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) report reveals today that more than 250 16-year-old boys are killed or seriously injured in moped accidents every year - making them more likely to be injured or die while riding a moped than walking, cycling or travelling by car.
16 - the dangerous age for moped riders analyses almost 3,500 teenage moped rider crashes over seven years between 2000 and 2006. It finds 16-year-olds are riding mopeds with too little practical knowledge, which leads to them being over represented in road casualty statistics. Neil Greig, Director of IAM Policy and Research said: “This is a forgotten issue. Sixteen-year-old boys are being allowed to ride mopeds with too little practical understanding of safe roadcraft or defensive riding skills, leaving them particularly vulnerable.
“The Government is currently reviewing driver training and testing. In the light of this report we believe that the way 16-year-olds are trained and licensed to ride a moped should also be reviewed.”
The report proposes a package of actions for making teenage moped riders safer. According to the IAM, the top three priorities are:
1. A review of the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) programme that currently lasts for just two hours.
2. A “Think moped” campaign to tell drivers and teenagers where, when and why moped riding is risky.
3. A commitment to develop policing strategies that target illegal and reckless moped riders.
The main findings from the report are:
o More than 90 per cent of 16-year-old moped riders killed or seriously injured are boys.
o Of all 16-year-old moped rider deaths or serious injuries, almost two thirds are sustained on urban roads, but two-thirds of moped rider deaths occur on rural roads
o Three quarters of injuries occur where the speed limit is 30mph or less
o Two thirds of injuries are sustained at or near to a junction
o Two thirds of injuries are incurred in daylight between the hours of 7am and 7pm
o Most injuries involve one other vehicle
o Only 20 per cent of riders skidded during the crash, and half of them were riding on a dry road surface
o While there is no typical moped crash, those that happen are most likely to involve a car at or near to a junction on a 30mph urban road in fine weather during the day View the full report and the IAM's full, ten-point plan on www.iam.org.uk/motoringtrust
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