Craig Carey-Clinch (NMC): ”Ignoring motorcycles in the hope they’ll just go away is not a credible road safety policy.”

At this year’s National Road Safety Conference in the United Kingdom, the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) brought a bold message: it’s time for government and policymakers to stop seeing motorcycles as a problem to be eliminated, and start seeing them as part of the solution.

We sat down with Craig Carey-Clinch, Executive Director of the NMC, following his presentation with Saul Jeavons of the Transafe Network, to talk about how Britain can create what he calls a ‘virtuous circle’ of motorcycle safety.

Craig, what was the key message you wanted to get across at the National Road Safety Conference?
Craig Carey-Clinch: We wanted to challenge the way motorcycling is treated in transport policy. Too often, safety concerns are used as an excuse to exclude motorcycles from planning or to discourage people from riding altogether. That approach doesn’t work. It just creates what I call a ‘disvirtuous circle’ where safety doesn’t improve, because the system never supports riders properly in the first place. Instead, we’re saying: let’s create a virtuous circle, where integrating motorcycles into transport planning actually improves safety, encourages better infrastructure, and recognises riders as legitimate road users.

What does that ‘virtuous circle’ look like in practice?
Craig: In several countries, governments have recognised that motorcycles are an important and sustainable form of personal transport. They see powered two-wheelers as a mobility solution, not an inconvenience. That changes everything, from access to bus lanes, to parking policy, to road design. When motorcycling is accepted as part of the wider transport system, authorities start to invest in improving rider safety, not suppressing riding. It’s a win-win for congestion, emissions, and safety.

‘It’s time to move from a policy of exclusion to one of inclusion, turning the negative cycle of motorcycle safety into a positive, sustainable, and safer future for all who ride.’

So the United Kingdom is lagging behind on this?
Craig: Sadly, yes. The UK has been slow to embrace motorcycling as part of an integrated transport mix. Other countries have national motorcycle safety strategies, they gather better data, and they design infrastructure with riders in mind. Meanwhile, our safety statistics have basically flat-lined since 2019, and fatalities are actually higher than they were in 2013, when the current testing and licensing system came in. That’s not good enough.

You mentioned data and research. What’s missing there?
Craig: A lot, frankly. We need much better, more detailed data. The last major international motorcycle crash study, MAIDS, was done 25 years ago! We’re calling for a new, in-depth study that looks at real-life case studies, rider experience, and the full context of crashes. Things like journey purpose, what protective gear was worn, and the riding history of those involved are still too often unrecorded. Without that knowledge, it’s very hard to create effective policy.

You also talked about Safe Systems; what would a motorcycle-focused version look like?
Craig: It means putting riders at the heart of safety planning. That includes proper investment in infrastructure, support for post-test training programmes like Learn-Ride-Enjoy-Repeat, BikeSafe and Biker Down, and cracking down on counterfeit riding gear that gives a false sense of security. We’d also like to see motorcycle-inclusive transport policies and the long-promised review of testing, training, and licensing, something that’s well overdue.

How do you want government policy to change in the near future?
Craig: We’ve got two big opportunities coming up, the Integrated National Transport Strategy and the Road Safety Strategy. Both need to finally recognise motorcycles as a transport mode in their own right. That means supporting riders with better access, safer roads, investment in training, and fresh research. If we do that, we’ll see fewer crashes, lower costs for the National Health Service, and a better transport system for everyone.

Saul Jeavons from Transafe made some strong points about data and investigations. Can you expand on that?
Craig: Yes, Saul rightly pointed out that we need a much more structured approach to investigating motorcycle crashes. That includes collecting segmented data, about the riders, the bikes, the road conditions, and even what riders are wearing. He also backed the creation of the new Road Safety Investigation Branch, which should help ensure lessons are properly learned, not just filed away.

Finally, what’s next for the NMC on this front?
Craig: We’re ready to work with government, just as Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said in her keynote speech to the full conference, she spoke about the need for partnerships to deliver real change. The NMC and our member organisations stand ready to help shape that change. Because ignoring motorcycles in the hope they’ll just go away is not a credible road safety policy, and it never will be. In short: The NMC’s message is clear: it’s time to move from a policy of exclusion to one of inclusion, turning the negative cycle of motorcycle safety into a positive, sustainable, and safer future for all who ride.

Written by Wim Taal

Top photograph: AI generated

This article is subject to FEMA’s copyright