04/10/2024
As motorcyclists often ride in groups or pairs, it is sometimes the case that if one biker is unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision, the first person on the scene will be a fellow biker.
Biker Down! Cymru aims to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured in road collisions, with the course being delivered by operational firefighters.
The course comprises of three modules:
23/08/2024
North Wales Police officers from the Roads Crime Unit visited a motorcycle safety course at Rhyl Fire Station on Saturday to show their support.
Biker Down! Cymru is a free course, taught only by emergency service professionals on how to keep an injured motorcyclist alive until the ambulance arrives.
It was created by Jim Sanderson from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and is taught all over the UK by emergency service personnel who are dedicated to saving the lives of others and helping the public to know what to do should they arrive at the scene of a motorcycle collision.
06/08/2024
The Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) is a motorcycle helmet safety consumer information scheme launched by the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) in 2007, following research by TRL revealing the differences in the safety performance of motorcycle helmets available in Great Britain.
The SHARP scheme promotes the importance of motorcycle helmets and advises on their correct fitment, while providing an independent objective assessment of the level of impact safety protection that a helmet model would provide the wearer during a collision.
As a consumer information scheme, it is important that SHARP understands and meets the needs of the motorcyclists that will use it. The SHARP survey aims to gather insights into your riding and helmet purchase behaviour and your understanding and use of the SHARP scheme as a rider in the UK.
19/07/2024
Are you unemployed and struggling to secure work due to lack of transport? Then a new moped hire scheme could be your ticket to a brighter future!
The newly launched Wheels2Work initiative in Torfaen allows eligible participants to hire one of the four brand new mopeds for up to six months.
The scheme will also cover the cost of Compulsory Basic Training licences, which drivers need to ride mopeds legally on public roads.
13/06/2024
As part of ongoing efforts to reduce motorcycle-related deaths and serious injuries on the roads of North Wales officers from the Roads Crime Unit held a special operation over the weekend using the NPAS (National Police Air Service) fixed wing aircraft.
Officers in marked and unmarked cars targeted the A494, A5 and A487 in the Gwynedd South area on Sunday, 9 June, roads which feature in KSI (killed or seriously injured) statistics in the area.
Temporary Sergeant Leigh McCann of the Roads Crime Unit said: “The aircraft was useful in locating and directing officers on the ground to areas where motorcycles were seen being ridden in an anti-social manner.
17/04/2024
Pembrokeshire County Council has announced courses for mature drivers and motorcyclists in 2024-25.
Dragon Rider is a motorcycle training course supported by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Enhanced Rider Scheme. The initial session is delivered via Microsoft Teams, which is then followed with the practical element which will be road based. This takes place a variety of roads throughout Pembrokeshire and neighbouring counties to meet the training needs of each individual rider, based on the advanced Police rider manual, Roadcraft.
Course dates
24 April 2024
22 May 2024
26 June 2024
17 July 2024
18 September 2024
23 October 2024
27 November 2024
15 January 2025
26 February 2025
02/04/2024
A campaign aimed at reducing the risk of motorcycle-related deaths and serious injuries on the roads is now underway across North Wales.
The annual Operation Darwen campaign runs from early Spring through until the autumn, covering a period that sees the highest number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured. The campaign is aimed at promoting rider safety and will see high visibility patrols being carried out along key routes which have been identified as risk areas.
Over the coming months, officers from the Roads Crime Unit will be on active patrol across the region and will also be engaging with riders at popular biker meeting spots.
18/12/2023
Funding has been given to a project to fund two police officers and state-of the-art technology to help tackle illegal off-roading.
The initiative between Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly councils and Gwent Police has been operating since the start of November resulting in the seizure of 10 illegal off-road vehicles to date.
The local authorities have invested £122,220 Shared Prosperity Funding to fund the officers’ posts, as well as a drone, Land Rover and quad bike to catch people who ride scramblers, quad bikes and motorbikes illegally on the mountainsides.
08/11/2023
Riding in the rain - it’s probably fair to say that bikers in Wales will have lots of experience of this!
Nevertheless a few hints and tips from Wales By Bike will hopefully provide a useful reminder of how to ride safely in wet weather.
Rain or shine, each ride should ideally be smooth, relaxed and confident. Look well ahead and try to enjoy the experience, even if you’re soggy around the edges!
08/06/2023
Paul, a biker from Blackwood in south Wales, has been randomly selected as the winner of the Wales by Bike Prize Draw Survey.
Anyone who had completed a Welsh Government subsidised course was invited to fill in a survey and to be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win £250 from Road Safety Wales.
Welsh Government subsidised courses included: