THE Department for Infrastructure has denied claims they are “ignoring” the safety needs of motorcyclists.
Last month, the department published a draft strategy for road safety in Northern Ireland up to 2030.
But according to the lobby organisation, Motorcycle Action Group, the contents show “an astonishing dereliction of responsibility which amounts to discrimination against motorcyclists and a devaluing of our lives".
Martin Boyd represents the group in Northern Ireland and said proposals to improve conditions for motorcyclists were “glaringly absent” compared to other vulnerable road users like pedestrians, equestrians and cyclists.
He said around 2.5 per cent of road users are motorcyclists, roughly the same as HGVs.
“This is astonishing since the DfI claims that motorcyclists have the greatest vulnerability of all road users and that we, apparently, suffer a rate of serious collisions twice that in Great Britain,” he said.
PSNI figures show that nine motorcyclists have died on the north's roads this year, out of 45 fatalities.
This compares to 12 motorcyclist deaths out of 37 in 2021 and seven out of 50 in 2020.
He said the group had submitted detailed proposals for the strategy, including a scheme to provide low-cost advance training for motorcyclists.
Already in use elsewhere in the UK, he said it had contributed to a significant reduction in collisions.
“But the DfI refuses to consider it. So, for their most vulnerable road users, they do nothing. They ignore us,” he said.
“Motorcyclists are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives.
"Our lives are important, we will not be disregarded. Motorcycle Action Group believes the DfI is guilty of an astonishing dereliction of responsibility which amounts to discrimination against motorcyclists and a devaluing of our lives.
"We demand parity of respect.”
A DfI spokesperson said: “Road safety is a matter of significant importance and the department is committed to working proactively to make our roads safer and to address the needs of all road users, particularly vulnerable road user groups, including motorcyclists.
"In the development of the draft road safety strategy officials engaged extensively with motorcyclist representative bodies, to ensure their views on motorcyclists’ safety were discussed and due consideration given when developing the strategic priorities for the strategy.
“The department will continue to work with partner agencies to promote road safety and reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries across the roads network.”
