DocBike is delighted to announce that it has won the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award, for its exceptional contribution to motorcycle injury prevention.
Established in 1987 and organised by RoadSafe, the prestigious awards recognise the outstanding achievement and innovation of organisations worldwide, that help to improve road safety. Each year, the most outstanding examples of international road safety initiatives are given public recognition through the scheme and DocBike are proud to have received the award for the charity’s contribution to motorcycle injury prevention.
DocBike works in collaboration with its partners on a national level, to reduce deaths and serious injuries on the UK’s roads due to motorcycle collisions. In addition to providing roadside critical care, the life-saving charity helps motorcyclists to become more skilful riders and to reduce their risk of being involved in a collision, by sharing its research and experience from attending motorcycle collisions, along with championing attendance at BikerDown and seeking further rider training through BikeSafe and advanced rider training courses.
Impressed by the charity’s motorcycle injury prevention work, the distinguished Judging Panel which included representatives from Highways England, RoadSafe and IAM RoadSmart, reviewed the submission and recommended to His Royal Highness that DocBike should receive an award.
Reflecting on the incredible achievement, Chris Smith QPM, Co-Founder and Trustee of DocBike said:
“Working alongside Dr Ian Mew at the scene of road traffic incidents, it was clear that we needed to reduce the number of motorcycle collisions on our roads and would be able to engage more effectively with riders in high-risk groups, if we tried something new. Since starting DocBike as a project in 2013 with the support of Dorset Police as our partner, our motorcycle injury prevention work has gone from strength to strength. After gaining charity status in 2018, the scheme has become so successful that we are now operating in seven regions across the UK.
“We aim to help riders look after each other, whilst gaining new skills that could help to make them safer on our roads. Riding is a pleasure, but it also has its risks, so our work is constantly looking at ways to minimise those risks and reduce the overall number of motorcycle collisions on our roads. Our continued partnership with Dorset Police and other emergency services, allows us to expand our work and provide better coverage for more of the time, as we add further bikes to our fleet to go out and watch over bikers where they ride. This award recognizes the exemplary efforts of those who have helped us over the years and continue to do so into the future.”
Dr Ian Mew, Co-Founder and Trustee of DocBike added:
“As a doctor on the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, it soon became clear that regardless of the clinical expertise and equipment carried on board the helicopter, motorcyclists are so seriously injured in the event of a high-speed collision; the only real solution to help save lives, is to try and prevent these crashes from happening in the first place. “DocBike helps to keep bikers on two wheels in three ways. Firstly, we provide critical care to any member of the public who needs life-saving intervention, not just motorcyclists; secondly, we teach members of the public how to manage the scene of a motorcycle crash and show them how they can help keep someone alive until the emergency services get there; and finally, we share our experience of why motorcyclists crash and give bikers tips and tricks from some of the UK’s most experienced riders, to help them become a more skilful rider and be less likely to be involved in a collision in the future. “We are passionate about keeping motorcycling fun. Working with partners in the emergency services and helping to inform government departments, using research to inform our decision making and associating with air ambulances across the UK, we are there to help bikers get the most out of their bike whilst doing everything that we can to keep motorcyclists on two wheels.”
Representatives from the charity attended a ceremony at The Savoy in London on Tuesday 13th December, where the award was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.
More information about DocBike can be found by visiting: www.DocBike.org
Representatives from DocBike receiving the award from His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent