New Minister aims for improved road safety

Date: 24/5/2010

Mike Penning MP, the government's new Roads Minister, has pledged to make road safety one of his top priorities.

According to Channel 4 News, there are currently concerns that the number of motorcyclists on Britain's roads without qualifications is on the up.

However, Mr Penning has reaffirmed his commitment to cutting down on the number of people killed while driving.

"I will be carefully considering the motorcycle testing and training regime alongside the full range of road safety policy to ensure we have the best systems in place," he stated.

Various organisations believe the closure of some 235 off-road test centres in favour of 45 multi-purpose facilities across the country could lead to candidates being put off by travelling long distances to be assessed, Channel 4 News added.

It was recently revealed that motorcyclists in the West Midlands have the chance to attend a one-day bike show organised by the West Midlands Casualty Reduction Scheme, offering safety tips and advice.