Spending review warning

Motorcycle safety could suffer due to Chancellor George Osborne’s spending cuts, the British Motorcyclists Federation has warned.

Local authorities are likely to reduce spending on road maintenance, leading to more potholes, and axe safety initiatives including subsidised rider training.

Free police-run Bikesafe riding courses are in jeopardy because they receive funding from forces and local authorities, both of which have had budgets slashed.

Spending on policing is to fall by £1.2billion to £8.5billion over the next four years.
Local authorities face budget cuts of around 7% in the same period.

A local authority scheme lending mopeds to young people to get to work or college, called Wheels to Work, is also at risk, according to the BMF’s Chris Hodder.

He said: “Almost all road maintenance is paid for by local authorities and the cuts will probably mean it is done less frequently, which could mean more potholes.

“Wheels to Work and Bikesafe, which is part funded by police, will be probably be cut back.”

Neil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “It would be an awful legacy if budget cuts slowed or reversed the trend to less death and injury on the road.”