Motorcyclist Deaths Rise 9%: A Stark Warning for Road Safety
The Road Safety Trust has expressed serious concern following the UK Government’s latest provisional road casualty statistics, which show a 9% increase in motorcyclist fatalities in 2024.
The rise contrasts with marginal declines in other road user groups and underscores the persistent vulnerability of motorcyclists.
“This is a deeply worrying trend,” said Ruth Purdie OBE, Chief Executive of The Road Safety Trust. “Motorcyclists continue to face disproportionate risks on our roads. While positive initiatives such as BikeSafe and advanced rider training are making a real difference, this data makes it clear that more needs to be done.”
The Trust is calling for targeted, coordinated action - including smarter infrastructure, better use of data, improved junction design, and robust enforcement of behaviours which improve rider safety. It points to the funding provided to the groundbreaking Project PRIME, an evidence-led intervention aimed at improving motorcyclist visibility at bends.
Originally piloted through Trust funding, Project PRIME is now being adopted in Scotland and other parts of the UK.
“We’re proud to have funded Project PRIME and we are pleased to see its principles being embedded into wider policy and practice,” Ruth added. “This is the kind of innovation and collaboration that can genuinely save lives.”
The Road Safety Trust joins organisations such as IAM RoadSmart in calling for a renewed national focus on motorcycle safety, supported by long-term commitment and cross-sector coordination, following last week’s publication of the provisional road casualty estimates by the Government.
2 June 2025