The MCI is calling on riders to cut their Christmas drinking if they are planning to ride. The latest analysis of drink-drive statistics show that in 2008, of the motorcycle riders tested following an accident, 1.4 per cent failed a breathalyzer test compared to an average of 2.7 per cent for all road user casualties as a whole.

Although motorcyclists are half as likely as car riders to take the risk of drinking and driving, the Christmas season marks the time of year when people are more likely to indulge in a couple of extra drinks.

Young riders in particular are most likely to drink and ride. Motorcyclists aged between 20 and 24 were most likely to fail a breath test, with 2.4 per cent of tests taken by riders in this age band positive for alcohol. However, this figure is still less than half that of the average for all road users between 20 and 24, of whom 5 per cent gave a breath test positive for alcohol.

The MCI advises:

. Never drink any amount of alcohol if you're riding. You don't have to be over the limit for your skills to be impaired.

. Never drink late at night if you're riding early the next morning. If you get caught out later than you thought, take alternative transport or go pillion next morning.

. Don't let mates drink and ride.

. Don't buy a drink for anyone if you know they are planning to ride

Steve Kenward, MCIs, CEO commented, " The party season is upon us. The only sensible message is don't drink and ride. Drinking, drugs and motorcycle riding don't mix at any time in the year but be especially careful during this season of good cheer and increased temptation.
 
"Bear in mind that alcohol can stay in your system well into the next day, so if you were drinking the night before you might also want to avoid riding in the early part of the the next day."

TruckProtect Ltd, the manufacturer of the best-selling NeckIt! fuel anti-siphon device (ASD), is this year’s winner of the KillSpills/bmf/IAM Award 2010 for ‘Achievement in Reducing Diesel Spills’.

The annual award was first introduced in 2005 in order to recognise the achievements of those working to reduce the menace to motorcyclists of spilt diesel on our roads. The 2010 award once more goes to TruckProtect Ltd in recognition of the work they have done in developing programmes to promote the KillSpills campaign and the dangers of diesel spillage.

Last year TruckProtect won the award for the development of the world’s first anti-spill device to fit within an anti-siphon device and therefore prevent diesel spills from a fuel tank even when a fuel cap has not been replaced or is broken. The device is now being launched by DAF and Scania, amongst others, across Europe.

Commenting, KillSpills founder Stephen Edwards said: “The engineering that has gone into this product is truly impressive, but more than that, TruckProtect have shown real commitment and interest in ending the diesel spill menace faced by motorcyclists. They are a worthy winner of the 2010 KillSpills Award for Achievement in Reducing Diesel Spills.”

In receiving the award, Russell Fowler, Chief Executive of TruckProtect, said: “We are doubly delighted to be honoured once again by the KillSpills award. While our device started as a means of preventing diesel spillage and fuel siphoning, since first winning the award we have realised its importance to motorcyclists so have also stressed this aspect within the industry and with our customers. Some major publicity programmes will start soon following close work between KillSpills and ourselves. Their team is to be congratulated for their tireless efforts in raising this awareness”

This is the sixth year of the award, previous winners being ASDA in 2005, Sainsbury’s in 2006, the Highways Agency in 2007 and the DFT in 2008, all of them recognised for the work they had done in raising awareness of the dangers of diesel spillage and taking measures to prevent it.

Note: KillSpills (www.killspills.org.uk.), sponsored by the bmf and IAM, was formed in 2003 to counter the menace of diesel spillage and particularly, the danger it presents to motorcyclists.

More details on TruckProtect can be found at:  www.TruckProtect.com.

Well it's finally time, the mother day ride renamed the "Ride of Respect" has opened registration for 2011.

The event has been capped to 10,000 bikes and registration opened yesterday 24th November.

Registration will be on a first come first served basis and we are pleased to say that bookings have been massive during the first sixteen hours of opening.

All registrations are taken through the Afghan Heroes website and that the price is £10 per person. To avoid disappointment register fast, let the Thunder Roll again...

Road Safety Week ( 22-28 November) is giving children a voice and their message is "Slow Down' in built up areas because slowing down in our communities can help to save lives.

Department for Transport statistics show that 5% of motorcycle accidents were caused by exceeding the speed limit and 8% of accidents were caused by riding too fast for the conditions.

Although speeding is not the biggest cause of accidents on the road, taking steps to slow down can help save lives. Slowing down is the single most important thing that riders and drivers can do in towns, villages, and around schools. The slower we move, the more chance we have to react to the unexpected.

Tips for safer speeds in urban areas:

Check your speed limits - if you aren't sure of speed limits then refer to the highway code for the signs and indicators that you can rely on, read the road signs and be aware that in urban areas speed limits can vary from 20mph - 40 mph
Adapt speed to conditions - Slowing down for safety doesn't just mean staying within speed limits. It also means slowing down when you're driving in high risk situations, such as in bad weather, when visibility is poor, and in places where there are likely to be vulnerable road users.
Time to react - Even if the limit is the typical urban 30mph,  20mph is a safer speed when you're driving in residential areas, or near to schools and community facilities like shops. At this speed, you have a better chance of being able to stop in time were a child to run out.

Steve Kenward, MCI's CEO commented. "Although motorcyclists are themselves vulnerable on the roads we all need to be aware of other vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists".

"Riding at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions is critical. Adopting slower speeds, in urban areas, is vitally important for safety because it gives you time to react and safely come to stop in an emergency. "
Road Safety Week is organized by the road safety charity Brake - for more information go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association has appointed a new Chairman. Howard Dale, General Manager, Kawasaki Motors UK, having been Vice Chairman for two years takes over from Tara Glen of E P Barrus Ltd who retires having been chair for the last two years.

Howard spent 10 years working in a motorcycle dealership before joining a major manufacturer in 1991 and with close on 30 years experience of the motorcycle industry has  during this time developed a rounded knowledge of the issues affecting the industry at all levels.

Although Howard is taking on the role during a time of economic challenge, the industry Association, MCI is set fair to meet the challenges of the future and work with all stakeholders to ensure its key aims of improving both the accessibility to motorcycling, and its safety record though the delivery of the "route to safer motorcycling" initiative are achieved.

Howard commented: "As roads become more congested, motorcycling can and will play its part in governments mainstream transport proposals, MCI will work with government to this effect and I am excited about leading MCI during the period when the opportunity for our industry to become a solution provider becomes a reality".  Commenting on his appointment, Howard said: "As someone who has spent their entire career working within the motorcycle industry, I am both humbled and honoured to have been appointed Chairman of the MCI".

"Together with the MCI board of directors we will be working hard to increase accessibility to motorcycling and ensuring motorcycling becomes established as part of the UK's mainstream transport policy."

"It won't be easy but, as an industry working to a single ambition, we have a realistic chance of making some significant changes to the way motorcycles are currently regarded."

Howard will be in attendance at this year's Carole Nash Motorcycle Live (27th Nov - 5th Dec) at the NEC in Birmingham, one of the most important motorcycle events in the UK, where he will host both the visit of Transport Minister - Mike Penning and on the 30th November the first annual MCI member conference, of recent times, which will provide insights into current issues being managed by the Association on behalf of its members.