by Democrat reporter
Motorcyclists in West Dunbartonshire are once again being offered the opportunity to enhance their riding skills and road safety knowledge as part of Police Scotland’s ongoing commitment to reduce road deaths.
Rider Refinement is a one-day course, with over 40 sessions across Scotland between April and October 2026.
In 2025, a joint study undertaken by Police Scotland and Transport Scotland was published and examined motorcycle fatalities between January 2015 and August 2024.
The study found that 269 people – including 253 riders and 16 passengers – were killed during that period. Despite accounting for less than 1% of traffic, motorcyclists represented 18% of all road fatalities in Scotland.
Rider Refinement is led by motorcycle officers from Police Scotland’s Road Policing Unit and supported by an observer from the charity IAM RoadSmart and runs throughout the national motorcycle safety campaign, which takes place from March to September.
The full-day course costs £65, which includes lunch and all of the inputs.
The aim is to get motorcycle riders to consider all of the potential risks that can arise while on the road, determine if their current riding behaviours are suitably for ensuring their safety and improving their overall knowledge of road safety through a series of demonstration rides, inputs from course leaders and open discussions about safe riding practices.
In addition, officers carry out vehicle examinations of participants bikes and run-through the various safety checks that riders should undertake before setting off.
Supporting this year’s Rider Refinement courses is Andrew Stewart, who participated on the course last year and thereafter signed up for an IAM advanced rider course. He is now going through training to become a certified IAM observer to help deliver future Rider Refinement courses.
He said: “The overall experience of Rider Refinement was a very positive one and after completing the course I felt like a more confident and accomplished rider, but I also knew that I could then do more to make myself safer, so I took part in an IAM advanced rider course and was really happy to secure a good passing grade.
“I saw the level of professionalism and dedication being put into these courses and quickly understood that being a safe motorcycle rider was not just about passing your test and getting your licence, but about continually refreshing your knowledge and playing an active role in road safety.
“With that in mind, I have started my journey to becoming an IAM observer and will hopefully complete all my training soon so I can be part of Rider Refinement courses in years to come.”
Superintendent Andrew Barclay, Deputy Head of Road Policing for Scotland, added: “We know that motorcyclists make up a disproportionate percentage of those killed or seriously injured on our roads each year and we are committed to engaging with this group and providing them with all the support, advice and information to keep them safes while out on their bikes.
“We are grateful for the support of IAM Roadsafe in delivering the Rider Refinement courses, which are the only ones of their kind in Scotland, and I would encourage all motorcyclists to sign-up for a course in their local area.”
“Motorcyclists are a group we particularly want to focus on as, despite only making up 1% of traffic, they accounted for 19% of road fatalities in 2024. Rider refinement events provide motorcyclists with a great opportunity to work on their skills and knowledge, as well as ensuring both they and their vehicles are ready for the riding season ahead.
“This is the first track-based event of its kind in Scotland, backed by road safety funding from the Scottish Government, so I’d encourage riders to sign up and get training from experts at the country’s most famous motorsports venue.
“There are also a number of rider refinement courses being around the country to ensure training is available for as many motorcyclists as possible”
The course itself is a full day and costs £65, which includes lunch and all of the inputs.
Spaces are very limited and historically have sold very quickly.
To book a course or to find out more, use this link:
https://www.iamroadsmart.com/rider-refinement-courses/
In addition to the Rider Refinement courses, Police Scotland and IAM are also delivering another event aimed at riders who have had a break from riding over the winter, or longer.
Dust Off Your Leathers, which is sponsored by Transport Scotland, will make use of the iconic Knockhill Circuit in Fife to provide riders with training inputs and workshops, include a half-day training on the circuit. This will focus on improving skills and dealing with issues that often contribute to collisions like cornering and overtaking.
Those who attend will also be given training, which covers emergency on-scene first aid in the event of a crash, motorcycle maintenance and keeping their bike roadworthy as well as a better understanding of emergency braking.
West and South of Scotland
Sunday 12 April – Linwood – W H Malcolm, Heritage Centre, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU
Sunday 24 May – Dumbarton Police Station, Stirling Road, Dumbarton G82 3PT
Saturday 6 June – Linwood – W H Malcolm, Heritage Centre, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU
Sunday 14 June – Dumfries Police Station, Cornwall Mount, Dumfries, DG1 PZ
Sunday 5 July – Linwood – W H Malcolm, Heritage Centre, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU
Sunday 19 July – Dumfries Police Station, Cornwall Mount, Dumfries, DG1 PZ
Saturday 8 August – Linwood – W H Malcolm, Heritage Centre, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU
Saturday 22 August – Dumbarton Police Station, Stirling Road, Dumbarton G82 3PT
Saturday 12 September – Linwood – W H Malcolm, Heritage Centre, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU
Saturday 26 September – Dumbarton Police Station, Stirling Road, Dumbarton G82 3PT