The Catalan Traffic Service (SCT) is launching a new edition - the ninth - of its 3.0 training program for motorists. This initiative, developed with the collaboration of the Mossos d'Esquadra and the employers' association ANESDOR (National Association of Companies in the Two-Wheel Sector), aims to improve driving skills and techniques to increase road safety.
And it must not be forgotten that this group is one of the most vulnerable on the road. In 2022, 42 motorcyclists lost their lives in Catalonia. Although this figure is 14% lower than that registered in 2019 (the last year of normality before the pandemic), it is still far from reaching the goal of zero deaths, which will not be achieved in 2023 either: for now, so far Five have already died this year and about forty have been seriously injured.
To date, more than 4,300 motorcycle users have participated in the program. In the last edition, 753 people did it, with an average age of 47 years and with two decades of experience. In 20 of the 24 sessions there were women motorcyclists. One of the objectives of this year is to maintain and increase participation in relation to gender "in a more proportional and equitable way", something that began to be promoted in 2022.
There are various novelties planned for the free program that begins this weekend in Reus and will end in November. Thus, the number of available sessions is increased to 40 (previously 25) and specific training in the urban area is included for the first time, which will begin in Barcelona with sessions aimed at scooter users.
The 40 planned sessions will take place on roads open to traffic in the four Catalan districts. The selection of the routes has been carried out taking into account the sections that are most frequented by motorcyclists during the weekend and register a certain risk of accidents.
After an initial talk, attendees -in groups of five- will take a tour of about twenty minutes on their motorcycle. They will do it accompanied and recorded by the instructors. Afterwards, the images will be displayed and the driving details that can be improved will be discussed.
After the activity, the participant will take the recording and a sheet with ten points on the technical state of the motorcycle, which is also reviewed in the course. At the end of the season, four extra in-depth training sessions will be held again, based on a draw among all the participants in the ordinary sessions.
Riders interested in doing this training can reserve their place online in advance or sign up in person on the day of the activity (while there are places available). They must come with their own motorcycle, and properly equipped (helmet, gloves, motorcycle jacket and pants, boots or closed shoes...). The tour can be done with a companion, who will also have to be suitably equipped.
Based on the courses carried out previously, the SCT has collected the most common driving errors in which the participating motorists have incurred:
