Welcome to our news area. This is where you will be able to find all the latest news from twb, following our official launch later this year (autumn 2006). In the meantime, we’ve reproduced several stories that have caught our eye and are relevant to our research – we hope you enjoy them too.

news & press

European Report Highlights Importance of Back Protectors - 19th June '06

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All professional motorcycle racers wear back protectors, but do you need to wear one for road riding? Information from a recent European report shows that the answer is YES. The motorcycle industry, represented in Europe by ACEM (the association of European motorcycle manufacturers) has conducted a major in-depth research project to help understand the causes and effects of motorcycle accidents. The Report (called MAIDS) put injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents into six categories (this is the standard AIS system used by accident investigators). The categories are minor, moderate, serious, severe, critical and maximum. Maximum is usually fatal. 5% of injuries (other than minor) affected the Spine. 20% of spinal injuries were severe or worse. 10% of spinal injuries were critical. Amazingly, a higher proportion of spinal injuries were critical than injuries to any other body part, including head, neck or thorax. “The MAIDS Report proves once and for all that, after a helmet, a back-protector is the most important piece of safety equipment a rider can invest in. It might just save your life.” said Geoff Travell, MD of Knox, widely recognised as world leaders in impact protection for motorcyclists.

Motorcycle industry targets young road user safety - 20th June '06

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The Motor Cycle Industry’s educational resource, ‘LINKS - connecting Citizenship and Road User Education’ which is being distributed free of charge to all secondary schools, will help government achieve new targets set for the ‘Every Child Matters’ initiative. In addition to LINKS being relevant to young people today, it is a resource that can work to supplement schools efforts to integrate classroom activities into this new Government initiative.

LINKS can be seen to 'tick the boxes' in 4 of the 5 key areas of this vital new initiative. The content can help schools to provide the support required to help children be healthy and safe. Also included are safety and lifestyle topics and discussion points that will support teacher's work with children to help them achieve an active life and develop a broader educational experience.

View the above article here

Diesel spills in the house KillSpills Rally, Saturday 9th September 2006

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Responding to a request from the British Motorcyclist Federation, a group of MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to raise awareness with vehicle users, manufacturers, oil companies and their retailers, of the danger that split diesel can present to motorcycle an scooter users.

Led by biking MP Bill Wiggin, Conservative Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister and chair of All Party Motorcycle Group (APMG), the Early Day Motion (EDM), has been tabled as part of this year’s KillSpills campaign sponsored by the BMF and designed to draw attention to the diesel spillage issue.

Fellow APMG members Lembit Öpik MP and Stephen Pound MP also sponsored the motion as did Peter Bottomley MP, Conservative backbencher and a former Transport Minister. Within two days, a further 20 MPs also signed the EDM.

Speaking after tabling the EDM, Bill Wiggin, who regularly uses his motorcycle to travel to the House, said: “Diesel spillage is a real danger to all two wheeled vehicle users and it just shouldn’t be happening. We have an obligation to make the roads as safe as possible for all road users that’s why I and my fellow signatories were more than happy to table this motion.”

Visit the Kill Spills website here

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