Number of motorcyclist deaths jumps by quarter

Numbers of motorcyclists killed or seriously hurt on Britain's roads have leapt by more than one quarter, the Department for Transport (DfT) has disclosed.

It has also reported a 14 per cent increase in children dying or suffering major injuries in accidents in the first part of the year.

The DfT figures showed 1,212 motorcyclists were killed or badly injured between January and March - a surprise rise of 26 per cent on the same three months last year. The numbers receiving minor injuries also rose by 9 per cent from 3,099 to 3,386.

Jeff Stone, spokesman for the British Motorcyclists' Federation, said he was dismayed by the increase as it reversed falling numbers of deaths in recent years. He said: "As part of driving training, and the driving test, people should be taught far greater awareness of what's around them.

"Motorcyclists also need to be more aware of their surroundings, because of their vulnerability. Regardless of who's at fault, it will be motorcyclists that are going to come off worse from an accident."

Mr Stone also called for more traffic police to be on the look-out for motorists driving dangerously or inconsiderately.

A DfT spokeswoman said: "Motorcyclists are known to be one of the most vulnerable road users."

She said the department was improving safety standards for motorcycle helmets, which could save some 50 lives a year. It was also running a £1.5m campaign to educate both riders and car drivers.

The number of children killed or seriously injured - both pedestrians and passengers - rose from 642 to 730. But there was an 8 per cent drop in deaths and major injuries among car drivers and passengers, suggesting the increasing numbers of motor safety features, such as air bags and collapsible steering wheels, are having a positive effect.

Overall, the number of people killed or seriously injured in the first three months of this year rose by 3 per cent. But taking all injuries, there were 59,177 road casualties between January and March - slightly fewer than the figure of 59,358 for the first three months of last year.

The DfT also published figures showing estimated traffic levels rose by 1 per cent between April-June 2006 and April-June 2007. Car traffic was 1 per cent lighter but light van traffic increased by 9 per cent.