In a result that has been described as "a great achievement by everyone involved in motorcycle safety", almost 100 fewer motorcyclists were killed on Britain's roads in 2008 than in 2007.
A total of 493 motorcyclists lost their lives in 2008, the lowest number since 1996 (when 440 riders were killed) and just 26 more than the 1994-1998 average of 467, the official British government baseline for road safety targets.
Over the same period motorcycle use has increased over 44 percent.
The reduction of 16 per cent in the number of motorcycle fatalities is a greater reduction than for road users as a whole, where fatalities fell just 14 per cent. The number of riders killed or seriously injured is down 10 percent on 2007, and the total number of motorcycle casualties is eight percent lower than in 2007.
The Motor Cycle Industry (MCI) has put down the great result to a number of factors, including the so-called "BikeSafe" schemes, intelligent enforcement, engineering advancements; and improving training standards.