A new online
campaign highlighting the benefits of enhanced training for
motorcyclists has been launched today by the Driving Standards Agency.
* New online campaign to support the Enhanced Rider Scheme
* Four ‘champions’ will talk about their experiences through
interactive microsite, video and social media
* Insurance discounts for riders who complete Enhanced Rider
Scheme course
DSA has set up a dedicated microsite and is using popular social
networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote
the Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS).
ERS is a joint DSA and Motorcycle Industry Association road
safety initiative, designed to encourage riders, regardless of
ability, to continually develop their skills. Every rider who
completes the programme could be entitled to an insurance
discount.
Trevor Wedge, Chief Driving Examiner and Director for Safer
Driving at DSA, said:
“Motorcyclists represent one in five deaths or serious injuries
on the road, even though they make up only one percent of all road traffic.
“This is a terrible statistic: but we believe that further
training can help to reduce this casualty rate by giving riders
more knowledge about how to protect themselves on the roads.
“I am pleased that major insurance companies are supporting the
scheme by offering discounts to those riders who have taken part
in ERS. We are confident that this will encourage more riders to
take part in this important and worthwhile scheme.”
The ERS microsite, at www.direct.gov.uk/ERS,
features tips and advice from four ‘ERS champions’ – bikers who
have benefited from ERS themselves.
Each biker has their own video and profile and they will be
available to answer the public’s questions through online forums.
Their videos are also being streamed on Facebook and YouTube, and
up-to-date information will be available to followers of Twitter.
ERS champion Ben Byatt, 28, from Peterborough, has had two
accidents in the 12 years he has been riding.
“I came off my bike about two years ago, it wasn’t a major
accident, rider error really,” he said.
“People can get complacent when they’ve been riding for a while,
but there’s always something we can do to improve our skills, and
ERS is a great way to do that. I’ve not had any incidents since I
did ERS and it really helped me to sharpen my cornering and
observation skills.
“You never stop learning, and further training is a great idea,
it could help save your life, or make riding more enjoyable. It’s
a really good way to boost your confidence, and enjoyment, in riding.”
ERS is designed to benefit all riders, whether they are new to
motorcycling, upgrading to a larger machine or returning to riding
after a break. It can help improve key riding techniques such as
balance, co-ordination and cornering.
Under the scheme, riders go through an assessment with a
qualified trainer, who can then take them through a tailored
training course to improve their skills.
After completing ERS, riders receive the DSA Certificate of
Competence – Enhanced Rider Bonus, which qualifies them for a
discount from any of the motorcycle insurance companies which
endorse the scheme.
There are now more than 300 expert riding instructors on DSA’s
Register of Post-Test Motorcycle Trainers (RPMT). Fees vary
depending on the individual trainer’s rates, and the amount of
post-assessment training needed. A full list of registered
post-test trainers can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/ERS or
by calling 0115 926 6546.
* For further information, images or to request an interview,
please contact Alistair Harris, Deputy Press Office Manager, on
0115 936 6136, or email: Alistair.Harris@dsa.gsi.gov.uk
dsa.gov.uk | direct.gov.uk/motoring | businesslink.gov.uk/transport
twitter.com/DSAgov
Notes to Editors:
1. The insurers offering ERS discounts are: AA Insurance,
Bennett’s Insurance, Bikesure, Carole Nash, Chandler Direct, CIA
insurance, Devitt, Direct Choice Insurance, E Bike, Hastings
Direct, MCE Insurance, Lexham, Motorcycle Direct, Norwich Union
Direct, Express Insurance, Rampdale, Premium Choice, Swinton Insurance
2. The ERS microsite is available online at www.direct.gov.uk/ERS. The
YouTube channel is available at http://www.youtube.com/EnhancedRiderScheme.
To follow ERS on Twitter, visit https://twitter.com/EnhancedRiderS
3. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is one of the Executive
Agencies that forms the Motoring and Freight Services (MFS) group,
within the Department for Transport.
4. DSA’s vision is “Safe Driving for Life” with a mission to
contribute towards the Government target of a 40% reduction in
riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road crashes, in
the age group up to 24 years, by 2010.
5. Information on road casualties is available from dft.gov.uk
6. DSA promotes road safety through setting standards for
drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly
and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving
Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers;
Driving Instructor Trainers and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers;
supervising Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner
motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of learning
resources.
7. DSA is a trading fund with planned turnover of £199 million in
2009/10, largely funded through fees and revenue from other road
safety initiatives. It delivers tests from over 400 practical
driving test centres and 158 theory test centres.
8. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving
examiners. In 2008/09 DSA conducted 1.72 million practical car
tests, 84,000 vocational tests and 105,000 motorcycle tests. A
total of 1.5 million theory tests were carried out. At the end of
the year there were around 44,768 people on the Register of
Approved Driving Instructors.
9. DSA was one of the first Government agencies to introduce an
online booking service at direct.gov.uk/drivingtest
Contacts:
DSA Press office
nds.dsa@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Alistair Harris
Phone: 0115 936 6136
alistair.harris@dsa.gsi.gov.uk