Government Announces New Road Safety Strategy, Including a Consultation on Reforms to Motorcycle Training, Testing and Licensing and Separate Trials to Improve Motorcycle Safety on Rural Roads

The Government has today (7th January 2026) announced the launch of its new Road Safety Strategy, the first in over a decade, with the aim to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035. The strategy includes specific measures to crack down on uninsured drivers, drug and drink drivers, and vehicles being used without a valid MOT. As part of the new strategy, a consultation is to be launched on potential reform to the current motorcycle training, testing and licensing regime, with wider work to be taken forward to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads. Lillian Greenwood, the local transport Minister said today: “We must make sure that everyone is safe on our roads and that we can build a safer future for all road users.”

The Government has accepted that progress on road safety has stalled and a fresh approach is required. In 2024, 1,633 people died in UK road traffic accidents and nearly 28,000 were seriously injured. Motorcyclists are particularly at risk on UK roads, accounting for just 1% of vehicle traffic but 21% of road deaths, with many accidents involving motorcyclists often down to the negligence and/or inattentiveness of other road users, as well as poor road design and inadequate road maintenance. Research studies have additionally shown that many non-fatal motorcyclist injury accidents are not reported to the police, meaning that the actual number of motorcyclist injuries on the UK’s roads are likely to be higher than the published data shows. 2024 data released by the Department For Transport highlighted an unacceptable 9% rise in motorcyclist fatalities based on 2023 figures.

Jim Freeman, Chair of the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) said in response to today’s announcement:

“The BMF has campaigned long and hard for the Government to integrate motorcycling into the mainstream of future UK transport policy, and for the delivery of effective government-led safety strategies for motorcyclists, including the need for long-overdue reforms to the current motorcycle training, testing and licensing regimes, which have failed to reduce motorcycle accidents and casualties. We therefore welcome today’s announcement which demonstrates that the Government has listened to the BMF’s concerns and is committed to take action.

“There is a real opportunity through the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, and the forthcoming Integrated National Transport Strategy, for organisations such as the BMF and our key partner the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) to work closely and collaboratively with Ministers and relevant government departments to develop a sustainable and comprehensive road safety strategy that properly addresses the specific risks and vulnerabilities faced by motorcyclists on UK roads. Reform of the current training, testing and licensing regime for motorcyclists, and a separate piece of work to improve motorcycle safety on rural roads, is a good place to start but more needs to be done with specific government action tailored to the particular risks and vulnerabilities motorcyclists currently face on UK roads. This must include the delivery of improved road design and infrastructure and an unwavering focus on reducing the specific factors that contribute to motorcycle collisions and fatalities, underpinned by significant government investment in improving motorcycle safety. The BMF looks forward to working with Ministers and officials to deliver on these objectives.”

Written by Paul Morgan CBE

Top image courtesy of David Abrams – iStock