NEWS FROM BENNETTS

Treacherous Thursday!

Thursday is the most dangerous day to ride a motorbike

Thursday is the most dangerous day to ride a motorbike, according to annual claims data¹ from Bennetts, the UK’s No.1 Bike Insurance Specialist. With 28,333^² accidents involving motorcycle riders occurring in the UK every year, the latest findings come on the back of the insurance provider’s current Government petition, campaigning to ensure compulsory bike-related questions are included in the driving test to help raise awareness of bikers on the road – www.bikerpetition.co.uk.

To date, prospective drivers can currently pass the driving test without answering a single question relating to motorbikes and bikers, who despite accounting for just 1% of road traffic, fall victim to over 20% of all fatalities³ on the roads.

Other findings from Bennetts annual claims data includes:

-          Friday follows Thursday as being the most dangerous day on the roads, with weekends being the safest time to slip into a pair of leathers

-          London proved to be the most dangerous area, with almost a quarter (22%) of all biking accidents occurring in the capital, with the biggest accident hotspots found on major roundabouts in Elephant & Castle (North) and Westway’s elevated inter-section in White City. Following London was Leicester (12%), Norwich (11%), Portsmouth (11%) and Bristol (9%)

-          Bikers named David are the most vulnerable on the road, accounting for 15% of total claims, followed by those called Paul (14%) and Andrew (11%)

-          Motorcyclists in their 40s are most susceptible to accidents, with over seven out of ten claims (71%) involving people aged between 41 and 48 years

Hannah Squirrell, Director of Marketing at Bennetts said, “With an average of 78 accidents involving motorcycles occurring in the UK every single day¹, our latest findings aim to make all road-users more aware of the presence and vulnerability of bikers on Britain’s roads. Currently, would-be motorists are able to take their driving test without seeing a single question relating to motorcyclists, and so we’ve registered a petition to challenge this and hopefully help improve road safety for all. As the casualty rate of motorcyclists is currently a staggering 61 times greater than that of motorists, something must be done to increase awareness of bikers.”

With over 35,000 signatures to date, the e-petition has already been backed by three of the most influential motorcycling organisations bodies; MCIA, MAG and the BMF, as well as celebrity bikers Suzi Perry, Matthew Pinsent, Iwan Thomas and Ray Quinn. Former Double World Superbike champion James Toseland, MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow and Moto2’s Scott Redding are also helping encourage signatures in a bid to reach 100,000 signatures which will then allow the petition to be raised in the House of Commons.

Adding industry support to the petition, Karen Cole, Director of Safety and Training for the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) said, “This is a very simple and sensible change that will make a difference.  Many road casualties could be avoided if drivers were more aware of motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.  The addition of just one mandatory question in the Drivers Theory Test specifically about  motorcycles will force drivers to ‘think bike’ from a very early stage, encouraging good driving habits, which can only be a good thing for both drivers and riders.”

To find out more information about the Bennetts e-petition and sign up, log onto www.bikerpetition.co.uk or http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26272

- Ends –

¹According to Bennetts 2011 claims data

²tDepartment for Transport data (2000 – 2010)

³ Source: http://www.bikelawyer.co.uk/bike-accident-statistics

Based on MCIA collision data in Greater London (from 2008 – 2010)

For further information please contact:

Emma Pritchard or Sophie Smallwood at Frank PR on 020 7693 6999 or email bennetts@frankpr.it

Notes to editors

Bennetts is a trading name of BISL Limited, Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Registered in England No. 3231094.

BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The expression Promoter refers to Bennetts which is a trading name of BISL Limited, registered in England under company number 03231094, whose registered office is at, Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. 

THE BACKGROUND TO BENNETTS 

·          Bennetts was established in Coventry by the Bennett family in 1930 to provide insurance services for the West Midlands.

·          In the early 1980’s Bennetts devised a number of specialist insurance schemes for all types of biker. These schemes are constantly reviewed to give bikers the exact cover they need.

·          In 2000 Bennetts was the first motorcycle insurance specialist to launch a quote and buy facility through its website, www.bennetts.co.uk.

·          In October 2001, the Bennetts brand was acquired by the BGL Group (formerly the Budget Group of Companies), through its purchase of the Dial Direct Group, a major UK car insurance intermediary.

o    The BGL Group was established in 1992, and has grown to be the UK’s third largest personal lines insurance intermediary, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions.

o    The BGL Group now arranges and administers insurance for around 2.3 million customers with more than £600million GWP. It has contact centre operations in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland, and Cape Town, South Africa.  It currently employs over 2000 people and its head office is in Peterborough.

·          In January 2005, Bennetts signed the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of the brand by becoming title sponsor of the 2005 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.  Bennetts continued its sponsorship of the British Superbike Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

·          In June 2007, Bennetts became official series sponsor of the World Superbike Championship for the remainder of the 2007 championship and for the entire 2008 championship.

·          Bennetts has been personal sponsor of two-time World Superbike Champion James Toseland since July 2007.

·          Bennetts Ultimate Track Day was held at Donington Park in 2009 and at Cadwell Park in 2010.

·          In November 2011 independent brand tracking research identified Bennetts as the UK’s No.1 brand for bike insurance.

·          In 2011 Bennetts became personal sponsor of MotoGP rider Cal Crutchlow and Moto2 rider Scott Redding.