With winter fast approaching, 45 motorcyclists from across Bedfordshire and Luton have attended a skills course designed to increase their knowledge of riding safely during the colder months.
The free course has been developed by Motorcycling Matters and local motorcycle training groups after analysing collision data, designed to allow riders of any age to build on their existing skills.
It included a theory session from the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Advanced Motorcyclists and first aid taster course, run by the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with St John Ambulance.
Motorcyclists then applied the theory to their riding style in a practical training session with one on one rider training, whilst Bedfordshire Police ran their Bikesafe assessments during the event.
Chief Inspector Richard Hann, from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit, said: “As winter approaches, riding conditions change. The winter riding skills workshop provides information to riders on how to manage these changing conditions, such as the weather and how to maintain their motorcycles during the winter. Motorcyclists are over represented in our collision statistics, so providing additional training opportunities and raising awareness of motorcyclists can help to improve motorcyclist safety locally.”
Members of Motorcycling Matters, including Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council, Amey, Bedfordshire Police and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, are committed to promoting lifelong learning opportunities to riders of all ages.
For further information on motorcycling and other training opportunities, please visit www.motorcyclingmatters.org.