Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to differentiate between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including within the Integrated National Transport Strategy.

The Department for Transport already makes a differentiation between motorcycles and driver-based vehicles in the development of transport and road safety policy, including the upcoming national strategy for integrated transport. The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January contains many measures that will directly or indirectly benefit all road users while also proposing specific measures that are distinct to motorcyclists for example the announced consultation on a package of reforms to motorcycle training, testing and licensing and for drivers for example minimum learning periods for learner drivers.

The Highway Code clearly differentiates between the rules for motorcyclists and other road users, being structured with specific sections for the different road user types. In January 2022 the department updated The Highway Code and introduced the “Hierarchy of Road Users” which places the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists who are most at risk in the event of a collision at the top of the hierarchy, so that they have priority in certain situations. Motorcyclists are recognised as more vulnerable, than cars and heavy goods, vehicles drivers within this hierarchy. However, as set out in the strategy, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.

With consideration to the access of different vehicle types to segregated road lanes, in 2024 the Department ran a consultation on allowing motorcycles to access bus lanes by default, as is the case for pedal cycles. The responses did not provide a robust evidence base on which to amend the current policy. Decisions on whether to allow motorcycles to use bus lanes are a matter for the relevant local highway authority.

There is also a differentiation regarding technical approval as all vehicles registered in the UK must be approved under the relevant type approval framework which ensure they meet safety requirements that are specific to their design and use. There is a dedicated type approval processes for motorcycles which is distinct to those for other vehicle types.