The first Selwyn Motorcycle Training Courses are to be offered over the next couple of months to provide improved driving skills to local motorbike riders.

Selwyn District Road Safety Coordinator Ngaire Tinning says in the five years 2007 - 2011, there were 58 injury motorcycle crashes in Selwyn District resulting in five fatalities, 34 serious injuries, 32 minor injuries and six non-injury crashes.

"Selwyn’s motorcycle crashes are very concerning, so we are developing a road safety project, particularly aimed at reducing the number and severity of motorcycling crashes in our district," she says.

The Selwyn District Road Safety group is co-ordinating the delivery of local courses to upskill new or returning motorcyclists and also the more experienced rider.

With support from Regional Road Safety and local motorcycle trainers, a half day course will take place on Saturday, 27 October and a full day course on Saturday, 3 November.

"These courses are highly subsidised and if we can fill these, we will hold them regularly," Mrs Tinning says.

To book your place, contact Duncan Seed, 0508 863 748.