6 days ago
Delivery drivers ‘behind rise in biker deaths'
The number of motorcyclists killed on Britain's roads rose last year because of the increasing popularity of food delivery apps, a leading motoring organisation has suggested.
Government figures show that biker deaths increased by 9 per cent last year, despite most other categories of road deaths and injuries either remaining flat or declining year-on-year.
Some 343 riders lost their lives in crashes in 2024, up from 315 in 2023, with motorcyclists making up 21 per cent of road deaths last year.
Edmund King, president of the AA, blamed the rise in motorcycle deaths on the growing popularity of food delivery services.
'As more travellers switch to two wheels because of costs and for deliveries, the warning 'Think Bikes!' has never been more relevant. Today's statistics underline that,' he told The Telegraph.
'Move the dial on safety'
Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director of the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC), also warned that rules for motorcycle testing, training and licensing, which were set up in 2013, are 'now badly in need of reform'.
'The current regime is complex, expensive, presents barriers to access and repeats identical tests for those on the progressive stepped licensing route – while doing little to really move the dial on safety,' he said.
'The UK-only Compulsory Basic Training regime also needs reviewing and updating. The new Government indicated a few months ago that it would 'consider' reviewing it – it's about time that consideration is converted into action.'
The figures published on Thursday show that there was also an increase in pedestrian deaths, up 2 per cent from 405 in 2023 to 413 in 2024.
The total number of people killed on Britain's roads last year was 1,633 – a 1 per cent rise from 1,624 in 2023, but an 8 per cent fall from 1,775 in 2014.
Mr King said: 'Every death on our roads is a tragedy, and sadly we are still losing at least four people a day. If this level of loss was experienced on any other form of transport, there would be a national inquiry and public outcry.
'Yet, for some reason, we seem to accept this as the risk of moving around our communities. This should not be the case.'
'Saving lives on the road'
Mr King called for the Government's upcoming road safety strategy to include 'bold action' such as harsher penalties for not wearing a seatbelt or drug-driving.
He also stressed the need to ' safeguard newly-qualified drivers ' to ensure they feel confident on the road before 'exposing them to additional risks' such as carrying passengers of a similar age.
Rod Dennis, the RAC's road safety spokesman, described the figures as 'alarming'.
He said: 'This data is yet more evidence of the need for a renewed focus on saving lives on the roads, so we look forward to the publication of the Government's road safety strategy.'
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, said: 'These figures demonstrate a troubling lack of progress in bringing down fatal and serious injuries on our road network.
'Moreover, 2024 saw a significant increase in the number of motorcyclists that were killed, further highlighting that more needs to be done to protect some of the most vulnerable road users.'
