Motorcycle Industry welcomes decision to defer new test

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has welcomed the decision by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to delay the introduction of the new practical motorcycle test by six months.

The new test was to be introduced on September 29, 2008, but will now be implemented on March 30, 2009. This follows calls by the MCI to delay the test and representations made to Jim Fitzpatrick, the transport minister, and the DSA last week by the MCI and other motorcycle bodies.

In July the MCI, supported by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation, demanded a delay of six months after the disclosure that only 39 of about 60 planned multi-purpose test centres would be ready in time. The MCI said that this reduction from around 260 existing test centres threatened to send the test system into meltdown, with severe consequences for the motorcycle and rider training industries. More importantly, it was likely to adversely affect road safety, with novices having to ride hundreds of miles just to take a test.

“This is the result we were hoping for,” said the MCI’s Craig Carey-Clinch. “The minister and the DSA have responded to our concerns about the new test, and especially to the road safety dangers of having so few test centres. Now there’s more time for the DSA to get the right infrastructure in place, and the industry will do all it can to help ensure a smooth transition.”

The MCI was also supported in its campaign by the Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) and the decision represents a victory for common sense as well as the interests of the whole industry and the safety of riders.