Motorcyclist’s Family Calls for Mandatory Safety Clothing Law
A campaign has been launched by the sister of a motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a crash, to make it mandatory for all motorcyclists to wear safety leathers and boots. Kimberley Thompson, 23, from Hatfield Peverel, Essex, was left "angry" with her brother Harry Pyett, 19, after he crashed on a country lane while wearing non-protective cargo trousers and trainers.
According to the BBC, Miss Thompson’s petition, which is available on the UK Parliament’s website, needs to receive 100,000 signatures in order to be potentially debated by politicians in Parliament. The petition calls for a new law to make it mandatory for all motorcyclists to wear safety leathers and boots.
The incident occurred on Easter Monday, when Mr Pyett crashed his bike on the B1078 in Hemingstone, just outside Ipswich. He badly broke his femur – the strongest bone in the body – and shattered his collarbone. He was rushed to Ipswich Hospital where he underwent surgery on his leg, with doctors using a titanium rod to realign the bone.
Miss Thompson told the BBC that she believed enforcing a law would help reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on the roads. "You see all these crashes on television but it is not until it happens to you that you think ‘things need to change’," she said. "I could not imagine getting in a car and not putting a seatbelt on and that’s just like a flimsy bit of material that saves your life."
Mr Pyett’s mum, Vicki Pyett, has backed the campaign, saying: "If it stops just one person from not wearing protective clothes and potentially saves just one life, it’s all worth it." She added that if you ride a bike or someone you love does, please nag them about wearing protective clothes.
According to Government data, in 2023, 315 motorcyclists were killed in Great Britain, while more than 5,400 were reported to have been seriously injured. The BBC reports that Rebecca Guy, senior policy manager at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said wearing protective clothing "minimised the risk of fractures" and other serious injuries.
The BBC also reports that since 2018, all elements of motorcycle clothing, apart from motorcycle helmets, must have a CE rating, which means they comply with health, safety, and environmental protection requirements established by the European Union. However, there is currently no legal requirement to wear the protective clothing when riding.
Miss Thompson’s campaign has gained support from her family and friends, who are urging people to sign her petition and help make a difference. The BBC reports that if you would like to sign Miss Thompson’s petition, you can do so on the UK Parliament’s website.
In conclusion, the campaign launched by Kimberley Thompson to make it mandatory for all motorcyclists to wear safety leathers and boots has gained significant support. The BBC reports that the petition needs to receive 100,000 signatures in order to be potentially debated by politicians in Parliament. With the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured on the roads, it is clear that something needs to be done to address this issue.
