Safety focus for bike show Youth Day

Organised by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show’s annual Youth Day will see 700 young people between 14 and 17 years of age enjoying a great day out at the NEC on December 2 – right in the middle of Britain’s premier bike show running from November 28 to December 7.

Youth Day is designed to engage young people in road safety, and this year takes on extra significance. The costs of motoring, including high insurance and fuel prices, are seeing increasing numbers of teenagers taking to the roads on scooters, mopeds and small-engined motorcycles. Moped and scooter sales are up by 10.8 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively this year.

While the emphasis is on road safety and accident prevention, Youth Day will also show that safety doesn’t have to be boring. Karen Cooke, the MCIA’s head of safety said: “We want to instill a sense of responsibility and the need for good training, but young people can also be enthusiastic about bikes and their benefits. Powered two wheelers are part of the answer to road congestion, and take up less space and have much lower CO2 emissions than cars. They also represent freedom and mobility and we want to ensure that young people are properly prepared for the road. Youth Day is exciting and fun.”

Student tickets for Youth Day are just £5 with free admittance for accompanying workers and teachers. A road safety treasure hunt will guide them around the show and there will be an Interactive Zone supported by Cheshire Police (drink and drug ridng/driving), First Bike on Scene (FBoS, emergency aid), Warwickshire County Council (moped safety), the Auto Cycle Union (motorcycle sport), Honda and BSM Rider Training.

There will also be a schools competition based on designing a motorcycle safety concept with entries displayed at the show.

Tickets can be reserved by contacting Jenny Luckman at the MCIA on 02476 408032 or j.luckman@mcia.co.uk.

For more information on the International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, visit motorcycleshow.co.uk. Information on motorcycling and the motorcycle industry is at mcia.co.uk