Government Recognition For Off Road Training

Scotland – It has been a while at Motorcycle Minds since we “dabbled” in the art of riding away from metalled roads to off-road surfaces, in fact it has been a couple of decades. If you are the same as us and want to hone some of your on road riding skills or simply some fun and exhilaration then taking a course with MotoScotland could be for you.

MotoScotland have recently announced that they managed to secure Government recognition for off road training by both the Department For Transport and the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency!

For the very first time in the UK, off road rider training has been recognised in the UK by the Government for its benefits to improving road rider safety!

In September 2015, after much work and effort on MotoScotland’s part, they had Government officials come (on their invitation) to assess their unique off road training. The first day of the course, they experienced the unique road safety benefits of MotoSctoland’s  training for themselves. And on their second day, they experienced “live” customers completing the same course and observed the significant changes (for the better) in the riders ability, confidence, mindset and approach.

On 18th July 2016, MotoScotland received written confirmation from them confirming their recognition of this type of unique training as “advanced rider training”!

MotoScotland, say, “It has taken us over 2 years of (unseen by the public) work to elicit this change of perception, but we have been persistent and totally determined to achieve this highly important change. We have done this knowing that the skills taught in our unique type of rider training are not taught in current motorbike license tests or other types of advanced road rider training courses! We believe that the unique skills and mindset developed from our type of off road training courses are essential for every road rider to learn.

We have also done this because of the feedback from customers who have completed our training and who have told is how valuable/important it has been for their riding skills and confidence. We are regularly asked by riders who complete our training “Why is your type of training not taught to people who are learning to ride for the first time, e.g. for the C.B.T.?” – as they know how useful they found their training as an experienced rider. Be assured, we intend to elicit this change and will keep you appraised of our efforts to secure this as we go forward.

We have also had many reports from customers who have told us that our training has “saved their life”!

And if that didn’t incentivise us to get this type of training recognised in the industry…..what would???”

Reasons why this is very important news for the UK includes: –

Road safety for motorcyclists could be improved by riders taking this type of training – this could help reduce the growing number of rider accidents/deaths

Riders are now being recommended to do off road training by the government – a significant shift in the perception of off roading

Land (for which access is very difficult to acquire in the UK) is now identified as a necessary resource to help riders learn off road riding skills to improve road safety

More road riders are likely to engage in this training with this type of official endorsement

More road riders are likely to subsequently then try related competitive sports, e.g. trials, motocross, enduro, etc.

The more riders engage with this type of highly physical activity, the fitter they will become – therefore, UK problems with obesity will be aided by this shift in perception

It should have a positive impact on bike sales and ancillary items as more people engage with off road riding

Original Source – MotoScotland

Please click on the following links to find out more: –

 Department For Transport

Driver Vehicle Standards Agency

MotoScotland – The key safety benefits that riders can learn include: –

• How to safely pick up a dropped motorbike – to help you avoid injuries
• How to steer a motorbike (e.g. in tight circles) at walking speeds without dropping the bike – invaluable skills for safe U-turns on the public highways
• How to gain additional grip through your tyres on slippy surfaces, e.g. gravel, leaves, mud, diesel, etc. – critical skills for when you encounter these surfaces, e.g. unexpectedly when cornering!
• How to ride safely on slippy surfaces – bike angles, throttling and braking summarised for control on surfaces like painted lines, wet metal surfaces, e.g. manhole covers, etc.
• How to safely arrive to and set off from junctions – badly planned junction arrivals can lead to a bike being dropped; unplanned junction set offs can lead to the bike going wide, potentially into oncoming traffic!
• Managing bike controls better – so that the rider is more pro-active than re-active
• How to achieve better balance whilst anticipating changing conditions – one of the most fundamental riding skills that can be learned
• Which brake to use on which slippy surface and how to stop safely (on slippy surfaces), under control – critical safety skills to avoid running into something you do not want to
• How to identify an over-braked front wheel, recover it and avoid falling off – an absolute must for road safety
• How to identify an over-braked rear wheel, recover it and avoid falling off – an absolute must for road safety

In addition to all these significant road safety skills, our off road training can also bring riders: –

• The ability to quickly read and adapt to different riding conditions
• The confidence in knowing how to control the bike better
• A balanced perspective and emotional control over fear of slippy surfaces
• An activity that helps riders keep fit
• A deep enjoyment that comes from engaging with nature and wilderness
• Fun and exhilaration