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June 11, 2025

National Young Rider Day returns to celebrate young riders

The 2025 National Young Rider Day takes place today (11 June), championing young riders and raising awareness of how they feature disproportionately in motorcycle collisions.

As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, more and more young people are choosing to ride a motorcycle to work, college, or simply to get around.

Founded by the National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) in 2023, National Young Rider Day celebrates that choice – and helps young riders stay safe on the road.

Sadly, young motorcyclists feature in more road crashes than young drivers, despite accounting for less than 1% of all traffic using the road network. It is the aim of NYRF to reduce the number of young riders killed and seriously injured.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the NYRF, said: “National Young Rider Day is the perfect opportunity to champion and celebrate a growing cohort of young riders, while highlighting the risks they face while out on the road.

“The NYRF pledges that it will continue to focus exclusively on young riders and aim to be their voice, representing their needs at a national level on road safety.”

A variety of activities will be taking place as part of National Young Rider Day, culminating in a specially designed online event, for young people who could already be motorcyclists or are thinking of becoming one.

Organised with the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, the hour-long event, which kicks-off at 6:30pm, is aimed at those aged between 16-24 years who may be thinking of, or already riding, powered two wheelers of up to 125cc.

Click here to register.

National figures show that each year the number of collisions and casualties involving young riders increases and this event is an opportunity for young people to access advice and guidance on a wide range of topics to help them avoid costly mistakes, both with their finances and their safety.

Fay Cannon, co-ordinator of the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, said: “Last year’s event was a tremendous success, with fantastic engagement from young riders and their parents. It was encouraging to see so many taking an active interest in motorcycle safety and benefiting from the expert advice shared.

“This year’s online event promises to be just as informative, continuing our mission to support and educate new riders, helping them stay safer on our roads.”

Show your support with social media resources
For those looking to support National Young Rider Day, a series of resources are available for use.

This includes three short videos from the Ready to Ride? resource, funded by The Road Safety Trust and Kent County Council.

The social media videos encourage young riders to watch out for hazards on the roads and to make the right choices about what to wear - to give them the best possible protection in the event of a collision.

Also available are a series of summer infographics, detailing the importance of wearing proper PPE all-year round and the pitfalls of riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as bike maintenance.

And finally, the NYRF is pleased to announce the launch of a series of 360 degree videos, designed to support GIG economy riders.

The videos, which are hosted on the NYRF YouTube account, talk riders through important scenarios, highlighting among many things, the importance of not being distracted.

For more information, please contact Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the NYRF, via email.

May 19, 2025

Free online event to support young riders

Young motorcyclists will be given the chance to gain advice and guidance from experts, and have their questions answered, at an online event taking place next month.

The Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership is partnering with the National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) to host a free session for young motorcycle riders taking place on 11 June 2025.

The hour-long event, which kicks-off at 6:30pm, is aimed at those aged between 16-24 years who may be thinking of, or already riding, powered two wheelers of up to 125cc.

Click here to register.

It also gives them a voice to ask any questions of NYRF members who cover a large area of expertise in the world of motorcycling.

The agenda includes is currently in the process of being formalised with topics to be covered including:

The ‘Science of Being Seen’
Tyre checks
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Mental preparedness and focus
Hazard perception and prediction

“This year’s online event promises to be just as informative, continuing our mission to support and educate new riders, helping them stay safer on our roads.”

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the NYRF, said: “For a young person, getting on the road is a huge step forwards to gaining their independence and can give them a great sense of freedom. We want to give young people the best start to motorcycling, being all too aware of the challenges that young riders face, both on and off the road.

“From choosing the right bike, to getting the best insurance policy and knowing which PPE to buy, it can be tricky to navigate, especially on a budget. This session is a great opportunity for young people, and their parents and carers, to find out the nuts and bolts of becoming a rider and to get expert advice to help prepare them for a successful and safe riding journey.”

Registration is now open for the event, which will take place over Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 11 June, 6.30pm to 7:30pm.

The event forms part of the NYRF Young Rider Day. The initiative seeks to raise awareness of the many young motorcyclists who take to the road on small, powered motorcycles and who share their journey with larger and more powerful traffic.

April 9, 2025

Campaign helps young bikers ride into the season

The National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) has launched a new campaign, focusing on PPE and bike maintenance, to help keep young riders safe this Spring.

The arrival of warmer, brighter weather leads to an increased number of riders on the road.

In many cases, these riders are returning to their bikes after several months away, meaning it is important to carry out maintenance checks.

Using the power of rhyme, two of the infographics encourage young riders to check their lights and test their brakes.

Stopping a motorbike quickly and safely is vitally important – while with the different weather that can descend even on summer days in the UK, riders may need their lights at any time, so it is paramount they are clean and working all year round.

The second set of infographics explore issues surrounding PPE, namely wearing the correct gear no matter the weather and properly tightening helmets at all times.

Making sure a helmet is strapped or properly fastened is the most important action a rider can take before setting off.

Records of crashes involving young motorcyclists often show that their helmets came off in the collision causing the rider to suffer head injuries. This is mainly down to the fact that the helmet has not been strapped on or fastened properly.

The infographics will be shared via the NYRF’s social media channels throughout April. They will signpost riders back to the campaign page, where more information is available.

Fay Cannon, Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership coordinator and NYRF member, said: “Spring is traditionally a time we see many more motorcyclists take to our roads and this includes our young riders.

“Whether you are a commuter, GIG courier or leisure rider, this is a good time to check your bike and yourself as the rider, to ensure you are both fit, safe and legal, to be riding out on the road.”

“We hope that our young riders find the information useful and that it helps to keep them safe.”

February 10, 2025

‘So you think you can ride?’ campaign asks

The National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) has launched a new digital campaign to educate young and new riders on the most important aspects of the Highway Code.

The ‘So you think you can ride?’ film series has been funded by the GEM Road Safety Charity and specifically targets riders aged 16-20 years, who ride in an urban environment, particularly GIG economy riders and those very new to motorcycling.

The goal of the campaign is to highlight the most important signs, rules, and regulations from the Highway Code, as well as road traffic laws, to those riders who may be unfamiliar or inexperienced with busy urban roads.

Each short film features a specific Highway Code sign and shows riders how to follow it in real urban environments. By understanding and following these rules, riders will not only protect themselves and save themselves a fine but also contribute to the safety of everyone on the road.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the NYRF, said: “This film campaign is designed to support new and young riders, helping them understand some of the key Highway Code signs and priorities of other road users.

“As well as staying safe, by staying on top of these rules, young riders will avoid getting fines and points on their licence, keeping them on the road without any legal hassles, particularly important if they are working in the GIG economy.”

Laura Ward, who chairs the GEM Road Safety Charity, said: “We know that young and novice riders are a high-risk group, and we believe that this resource has a key role to play in protecting our young riders. The videos provide essential knowledge and skills to novice riders, addressing important topics and offering easily-digestible information that has the potential to make a big difference for road safety.

“This initiative aligns with our commitment to creating safer roads for all users.”

As part of the campaign, the six films are being released weekly on social media, starting today (10 February). On Instagram, the posts will be supported by paid advertising, to reach as many young riders as possible.

All the films, as well as safety advice, can be found on the campaign page.

The campaign is being launched to support the Road Safety GB motorcycle conference being held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on Thursday 13 February.

The conference sets out to motivate, inspire and equip attendees to take action on rider safety.

November 17, 2024

Young riders encouraged to share views in new survey

The National Young Rider Forum has launched a new survey to help provide an up-to-date picture of the views and experiences of young riders, to support them to be safe while riding.

The survey forms part of the Young Riders Matter project, funded by The Road Safety Trust.

The survey covers a variety of topics, including training, wearing PPE and feelings about riding. It is open to 16-24 year-olds.

In return for completing the survey, participants will be entered into a prize draw to win a brand new SHARP accredited motorcycle helmet – worth up to £300.

The National Young Rider Forum is encouraging local authorities, motorcycle organisations and other stakeholders alike to share the survey, the results of which will seek to inform educational initiatives going forward.

Click here to view and share the survey.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the National Young Rider Forum, said: “Young motorcyclists continue to be over represented in the KSI casualty statistics, despite accounting for fewer numbers and miles travelled on our roads than all other road user groups.

“With this research project, the NYRF will take its knowledge and work with young riders to the next level. The project will build upon a strong foundation that NYRF have formed since 2019.

“It will provide new information and learning about young riders particularly those working in the GIG economy or affected by the cost-of-living crisis who use a motorcycle to access education, work or leisure.”

October 2, 2024

National Young Rider Day celebrates young riders in style

The National Young Rider Forum (NYRF) is reflecting on the success of the second National Young Rider Day, which took place on 1 October.

Founded by the NYRF in 2023, the purpose of Young Rider Day is to focus exclusively on riders aged 16-24 years, who typically ride bikes of 125cc or less.

Young motorcyclists feature in more road crashes than young drivers, despite accounting for less than 1% of all traffic using the road network.

In support of the day, events (both online and in person) were hosted across the country.

Essex Police and the Safer Essex Roads Partnership delivered a P2W Roadshow at the Colchester Institute and Writtle College, Chelmsford.

Attendees got the chance to use a P2W Simulator - used originally for police rider training purposes - to test their muscle memory, reflexes, skill sets.

Ellie Henderson, education and engagement manager for SERP, said: We know that young riders are a particularly vulnerable road-user group, so we were grateful to both colleges to allow us to talk to their students about road safety.

“The team had the opportunity to meet with hundreds of students to talk about how to stay safe on two wheels.

“The students enjoyed using the simulator, kindly brought by Devon and Cornwall Police, to experience some of the aspects of riding a motorbike, including hazards and appropriate filtering.”

Leanne Smith, personal development coordinator at Colchester Institute, said: “It was a pleasure to have the Safer Essex Roads at Colchester Institute today for National Young Rider Day. Despite the weather, the level of engagement from both our learners and the team was outstanding.

“The brilliant and clear information the partnership provided has helped our learners to feel more confident about staying safe while riding their bikes, or being on the road.”

Meanwhile, the variety of events culminated in a specially designed online event, organised with the Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, for young people who could already be motorcyclists or are thinking of becoming one.

Dozens attended the lively session, hearing from experts on a range of important topics, including: how to obtain a motorcycle licence, an explanation of Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) and the dangers faced by young riders on the road. Bike maintenance was also covered.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the NYRF, said: “The second National Young Rider Day was a resounding success - with some amazing events taking place across the country.

“We look forward to returning - bigger and better - next year.”

June 11, 2024

Infographics aim to help young riders make the right choices this summer

March 25, 2024 Post a Comment

Are you ‘Ready to Ride’ this Spring?

The National Young Rider Forum is launching a new social media campaign as it ramps up efforts to support young riders this Spring.

The campaign digitalises the ‘Ready to Ride?’ educational film, which details the steps that a young person needs to take if they are considering becoming a motorcyclist.

Funded by The Road Safety Trust and Kent County Council, the film covers vital topics such as licensing, PPE, maintaining a motorcycle and riding safely in sections presented by young people themselves.

The social media campaign is being launched today (25 March) ahead of the Easter period, which typically marks a return to the roads for motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.

It encourages young riders to watch out for hazards on the roads and to make the right choices about what to wear – to give them the best possible protection in the event of a collision.

The three videos – all of which pose a question to the viewer – will be shared across Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the National Young Rider Forum, said: “This campaign aims to raise awareness to new and young riders that the warmer, dryer weather will make the roads much busier.

“Therefore, it is vitally important they are watching out for hazards on the roads, as well as making the right choices about what to wear – just in case they come a cropper!”

Ruth Purdie OBE, chief executive of The Road Safety Trust, said: “It is well known that motorcyclists are over-represented in crash statistics.

“This timely campaign makes use of a great resource, which covers a series of important topics for young riders to consider.”

‘Ready to Ride?’ is designed to fit into school, college and university timetables, or any other classroom opportunity and can be delivered by road safety professionals, emergency service personnel or teaching staff.

The interactive film is 40 mins in length and features young actors who take the audience through five sections of information which potential young motorcyclists will find useful as they set out on the journey to be a new rider.

The film comes in two versions, one with subtitles. It also includes lesson plans and additional presenter information as well as evaluation sheets.

The National Young Rider Forum welcomes interested parties to pilot the resource, to inform a future national roll-out.

For more information contact Heidi Duffy MBE via email.

March 4, 2024 Post a Comment

NYRF enters partnership with Co-Pilot

The National Young Rider Forum is delighted to announce a partnership with Co-Pilot.

Bringing together road safety professionals, industry bodies and stakeholders, NYRF help members to develop collaborative campaigns and to ensure this vulnerable road user group have ready access to high quality information and advice about safe and responsible riding.

As providers of resources to road safety professionals, Co-Pilot have built a network of partnerships with a wide range of subject matter experts and stakeholder groups. The collaboration between NYRF and Co-Pilot will see knowledge, data, expertise, and ideas being shared to the benefit of our combined membership.

We’re all working toward the same goal and this partnership marks a milestone in the collective effort to reduce the number of young and novice riders killed or seriously injured.

Heidi Duffy MBE, NYRF Facilitator said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Co-Pilot in our mission to make the UK's roads safer. By working together, we can amplify our message and ensure that every driver understands the importance of being bike aware. This collaboration will enable us to reach a broader audience, driving positive behaviour change and ultimately reducing incidents."

James Evans, CEO at Co-Pilot said "I’ve long admired the excellent work of the NYRF, driven by Heidi Duffy and their members. I’m therefore very excited to see a partnership that will surely pave the way for greater collaboration on this important issue.”

January 15, 2024 Post a Comment

Young riders warned to watch out for ‘Jerks at Junctions’

The National Young Rider Forum has launched a new campaign to help keep young riders safe at junctions.

Statistics show that 60% of motorcycle collisions can occur at junctions.

The campaign, which will run across social media, highlights this statistic and provides young riders with simple set of instructions to navigate any potential dangers.

It will also appeal directly to drivers on four wheels to always check for bikers before emerging from any type of junction. Motorcyclists, particularly young inexperienced ones are road users who require extra care, consideration and concentration from drivers and junctions pose a real risk to those on two wheels.

Riders are encouraged to use the OSM/PSL routine:

Observation
Signal
Manoeuvre
Position
Speed
Look

The campaign also provides advice on overtaking and filtering.

This information has been broken down into four infographics, which will run across social media – particularly targeting Instagram.

Boosted posts will direct young riders to the campaign webpage, where they can find out more information.

The campaign launches today (15 Jan) and will run for four weeks.

Heidi Duffy MBE, facilitator of the National Young Rider Forum, said: “As this campaign clearly demonstrates, many motorcycle collisions occur at junctions.

“We want to make young riders aware of this – and hope the infographics will help to keep them safe on the road.

“We also want to ask drivers to remember that motorcyclists are smaller than other vehicles on the road and can easily be hidden by others whether moving or parked, always check for bikers at junctions, before moving out.”