Calls to better protect Norfolk's motorbike riders after series of fatal crashes
5 motorcyclists lost their lives in Norfolk in 2021
Last updated 8th Aug 2023
With 88,000 road users injured on UK roads every year, and latest figures showing that 310 motorcyclists were killed on UK roads in 2021 - an average of almost six every week - an urgent call has been made to make potentially life-saving air jackets more affordable to motorbike riders by granting them a zero per cent VAT rating.
In Norfolk in 2021, 5 motorcyclists were killed, whilst 84 were seriously injured.
It also comes after a teenage motorcyclist was killed over the weekend in a crash at Snettisham - while there was a fatal crash last month at a racetrack in Snetterton.
According to road safety charity I Am RoadSmart, motorcyclists account for just 1-3% of road users, yet they represent 13% of casualties and 20% of deaths.
Today, the charity's launching a campaign to address the disproportionate risks faced by motorcyclists on UK roads.
The campaign emphasises the need for affordable air jackets as a crucial safety measure for riders, and urges the government to understand the significance of 0% VAT on air jackets.
These jackets inflate in a fraction of a second after a rider falls from a motorcycle, providing over 50 times the protection to the neck and spine compared to standard back protectors used by some riders.
The charity argues the exemption will not only enhance the safety of motorcyclists but also make advanced technology more accessible.
Currently, the ongoing cost of living crisis means affordability remains a major concern for bikers, with research from the charity finding that almost two thirds (64%) of riders believe that the cost of protective wear prevents them from purchasing items that could drastically improve their safety.
Market analysis also estimates that only around 1-in-20 motorcyclists actually own an air jacket.