On Tuesday 15th March Right To Rides Trevor Baird and Elaine Hardy attended the launch of the new Road Safety Strategy for Northern Ireland at Stormont – On The Hill.
Alongside the launch of The Road Safety Strategy to 2020 – Vision: Driving Road Safety Forward, by the Environment Minister Edwin Poots, was the announcement of a consultation on a Graduated Driver Licensing scheme which reforms the learner and restricted driving schemes.
Mr Poots said, “Government in Northern Ireland is fully committed to improving safety for all road users. Working together, I firmly believe that we can make a journey on our roads as safe as anywhere in the world.” He also mentioned there must be a reduction in injuries to motorcyclists.
The strategy contains 199 action measures which are presented under ‘Safer Roads’, ‘Safer Vehicles’, ‘Safer Road Users’ and ‘Safer Road User Groups’. One of the key road safety challenges to be addressed over the 10 year lifetime of the strategy includes protecting motorcyclists.
Right To Right was a participant in the pre-consultation engagement and along with the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), also participated in the formal consultation to the strategy.
Many of the suggestions proposed in the 2010 consultation are included in the strategy, from
- The setting up of a Motorcycling Forum, including a range of stakeholders which will consider an inclusive and strategic approach to motorcycling.
- Consider provision of specific route treatments for popular motorcycle ‘runs’ such as motorcycle ‘friendly’ barriers and additional signing.
- Investigate development of additional signing systems to warn road users of the possible presence of motorcyclists ahead.
At the launch, Right To Ride’s, Trevor Baird, commented to the Minister, “I would like to commend the Minister and the department for the consideration given to motorcyclists and the setting up of a motorcycle forum, hopefully to deliver a motorcycling safety strategy to improve motorcycle safety.”
However as motorcyclists and a Rider’s Rights organization, there are some issues in the strategy that concern us.
Hopefully the proposed forum and consideration of the development of a motorcycling safety strategy for Northern Ireland will deliver a relevant and non restrictive strategy for motorcycling. We will be watching and will be ready to offer our opinions and constructive criticism as and when appropriate.
Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy to 2020 – pdf 1.6mb – Click Here
Easy Read Road Safety Plan to 2020 – pdf 787kb – Click Here
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