The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has underlined its commitment to rider safety by setting up a team dedicated to developing motorcycle rider safety initiatives.

The new department will be launched next year and will be run by MCI staff based at the trade association's HQ in Coventry.

Operation manager Karen Cooke said the new project would help to continue improvements seen over many years in motorcycle rider safety.

She said: "This is the first dedicated motorcycle road safety department to be set up by the motorcycle industry in the UK and its remit is ambitious.

"The unit will take on the responsibility for a range of road safety matters relating to motorcycling. We plan to work closely with Government, riders and training providers to raise standards of coaching and development opportunities for qualified riders"

The new team will build on key elements of the proven Edge rider development programme, which has been in operation for nearly two years, However, Edge rider assessments will end this month.

The Edge training courses were based on the principle of rider skills development and entailed a four-hour assessment by an off-duty police officer.

Once riders had proved their riding was of a certain standard and passed The Edge, they were entitled to a benefits package, which had a three-year lifespan. This included discounted motorcycle insurance, protective clothing and security products, plus invitations to exclusive track events.

Three hundred people passed The Edge between 2001 and 2002.

Mrs Cooke said the new department was a progression of the Edge ethos and that many lessons had been learnt from the experience.

She said: "We plan to incorporate the best of the Edge into the new department and want to take the proven Edge standard to a wider audience, so all motorcyclists can aspire to a high level of proficiency.

"Existing Edge members will still be able to claim discounted bike insurance.