• The Essex Casualty Reduction Board
• > Riders
• > DART Scheme

Dealer Approved Rider Training (DART) Scheme

This latest initiative sees motorcycle dealers working with Essex County Council and the Essex Casualty Reduction Board to provide extra training on top of the motorcycle license, at the point of sale, via dealers across Essex.

DART is free and can include anything from a ride out to familiarise the rider with their new purchase to a full skills for life package taking the rider right up to their ROSPA or IAM qualifications.

The scheme is receiving high profile backing from nationally recognised safety organisations such as RoSPA and the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists who certify the course.

Councillor Norman Hume, Chairman of the Essex Casualty Reduction Board and Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: "No motorcyclist sets out to have an accident but we have to face facts that motorcyclists account for far too many serious accidents and deaths on our roads.

"This latest free top-up training initiative is aimed at providing the extra awareness that could make a difference to the motorcyclist faced by a challenging situation.”

"I am very pleased at the level of support we have received from motorcycle dealers in Essex and would like to thank them for their hard work in helping us to make our county safer."

Tim Cope, from TK Cope Moto Ltd, said "As motorcycle dealers, we want nothing more than to encourage our customers to get the most out of their bikes and that includes not having an accident while using it.”

"We think we can help reduce accidents by presenting those purchasing a motorbike with the options they need to ride it safely and we are delighted to be joining with other partners in helping to bring down motorcycle accidents in Essex"

Liam Coffey, a motorcyclist who is backing the scheme, said: "I was a typical example of a rider who didn't take the dangers of having a high powered machine seriously enough and thought I knew it call.”

"But it can only take a split second to have an accident which can affect your life. Luckily, I survived a serious accident on Colchester's Southway but I am still experiencing the consequences of that day so I would encourage any other riders out there to get this extra free training."