Free life-saving motorcycle safety courses are being rolled out across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as part of a major push to reduce serious injuries and deaths on the roads.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) is offering the sessions under its ‘Biker Down’ programme, designed to teach riders how to respond safely and effectively if they are involved in or witness a crash.
The initiative will launch on Friday 25th April at Havant Fire Station, with a total of 14 courses planned over the next 6 months. On the Isle of Wight, a session will be held at Sandown Fire Station.
Motorcyclists injured at the roadside require careful handling to avoid further harm. The 3-hour course provides practical guidance on incident scene management, casualty care and improving visibility to other road users.
Biker Down is a nationally recognised training course developed by Kent Fire and Rescue Service and now delivered by fire services across the UK to help reduce motorcycle fatalities and serious injuries.
Sessions are led by volunteer instructors, including current and former emergency service personnel and experienced motorcyclists.
The programme is fully funded, meaning all sessions are free to attend. Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate.
Funding has been provided by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner through the 2026-2027 Road Safety Emerging Needs Fund. A total of £10,247 has been allocated, which will also support additional road safety initiatives aimed at young people.
Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner, has said:
“Road safety is one of my top priorities and I’m happy to support any initiative that helps reduce serious injury and deaths on our roads.
“These courses will give motorcyclists and their passengers the essential skills they need to minimise the risk not only to themselves, but others.
“Every serious injury or death on our roads is one too many. Anything we can do to help prevent that has my backing.”
Alex Jansz, Community Safety Development Officer at HIWFRS, has said:
“Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and knowing how to respond in the moments after a collision can be lifesaving. Our Biker Down sessions equip riders with the practical skills and confidence to protect themselves and support others. Thanks to the funding we’ve received, we’ve been able to reintroduce the programme and significantly expand delivery of these courses across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
It’s not motorcycles that need the training it’s car drivers who need to be trained to lookout for other road users ie motorcyclists
Don’t be a Numpty all your like, majority of ,otorcyclists
cycle like Numpties, weaving in and out of vehicles
cutting across central reservations etc.
I would have motorcycles banned, only police should
have motorcycles, they know how to ride them, unlike
Numpties who don’t!
Look at all the Numpties at the viewpoint at Blackgang
it’s like Numptyville!
Much needed. I have never seen a place with so many
Motorbikes going around with L plates on.
Might be a good idea to roll out courses for motorists too,
if I had a pound how many times vehicles coming towards
me cross over the white lines in the centre of the road
i’d be a millionaire by Christmas.
To make roads safe the island needs speed cameras,
speed humps, CCTV and 20mph roads.
I must say Sadiq Khan has made the big smoke a much
safer place for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, not to
mention reducing polluting levels.
He will go down in history for his determination to
make roads safe for everyone.
The rest of the country can learn a lot from Sadiq Khan.