Rider Refinement North

Police Scotland, along with road safety partners in the North of Scotland, are holding courses for motorcyclists to help them ride responsibly and reduce the number of collisions.

Rider Refinement North is a one-day course that will take place between April 2024 and September 2024 between Highlands and Islands, Grampian and Tayside areas. It is the only course of its kind in Scotland.

The course aims to raise awareness of the importance of road safety and make riders think of the personal consequences of taking risks.
Led by police motorcyclists and accompanied by an observer from the Institute of Advance Motorists, the course will look at key risk factors and provide riders with the knowledge and skills to be safer.

The course involves demonstration rides, observed rides with feedback from officers, vehicle examination checks of riders’ bikes and safety checks that should be carried out before any journey.

The cost of the course is £40 per rider and includes lunch. Spaces are limited, so providing more than one date for attendance will increase your chances of being able to participate. Anyone interested in attending the course can email us

operationriderrefinementnorth@scotland.police.uk

Previous courses received positive feedback from riders who changed their riding style and improved their skills as a result of attending Rider Refinement.

Inspector Scott Deans from Road Policing said: “Rider Refinement North is the only course of its kind being offered in Scotland and I hope that it will continue to attract riders who recognise this course as a gateway to more advanced motorcycling.”

“A significant number of fatal collisions in the north area of the country involve motorcyclists. With great roads and scenery in the Highland and Islands, Grampian and Tayside, motorcyclists from both the local area and from further afield love nothing more than to get out into the countryside to enjoy riding their machines, especially in the warmer weather."

“The police motorcyclists and IAM observers leading the courses will promote safe riding messages and encourage riders to think about their riding style and riding behaviour. We want participants to take advantage of the expert tuition and advice we will be providing."

Joining forces with police on this initiative are Road Safety Scotland, IAM RoadSmart, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Transport Scotland, Highlands and Islands Council, Aberdeen Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Dundee Council, Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Shirlaws Motorcycles (Aberdeen).

The course is open to any qualified motorcyclist; however priority will be given to those living in the Highland and Islands the North East and Tayside.

The dates the course will be running are:

Highlands and Islands (All based from Fortrose except 21st June which will be based on Shetland):
21st April, 19th May, 26th May, 2nd June, 21st June, 30th June and 21st July.

Grampian (All based from Inverurie except 18th May which will be based from Elgin):
21st April, 18th May, 26th May, 9th June, 20th July, 11th August, 28th September.

Tayside (All based from Perth):
11th May, 15th June, 6th July, 20th July, 10th August and 14th September.