New opportunities for bike safety
The Government announcement that the motorcycle test is to be reviewed has been strongly welcomed by the industry.
The Transport Minister, Mike Penning MP ordered a review of the two part test which was introduced in April 2009 as a result of European regulations. The Minister ordered the review after listening to concerns from the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) and riders groups MAG and BMF at a specially convened meeting last week and after visiting a test centre to look at the testing procedure in more detail.
Mike Penning said: "It is clear there are concerns among the motorcycling community about the safety of the new test's off-road module. There have also been complaints about the difficulty for riders in some areas of accessing the off-road test centres. "That is why I am today asking riders, safety groups and motorcycle industry representatives to come forward with their ideas for how testing and training can be improved to ensure we produce safe, confident and responsible riders."
The DfT review will look at the manoeuvres carried out in both modules 1 (off-road) and 2 (on-road) and whether these manoeuvres could safely be conducted in the on-road test.
The review will also look at other related motorcycle testing and training issues, including the options for training and testing for progressive access under the third driving licence directive and how any changes relate to wider proposals to improve motorcycle training and testing.
Steve Kenward, MCI CEO said: “This is a clear opportunity to properly review and decide what is required from the training and testing regime in the UK. Industry and rider group partners are delighted that the new Government has responded positively to long standing concerns about both the two part test and other forthcoming regulations from Europe.
“Industry will investigate with Government, as part of the enquiry, what initiatives are required to produce a license access, training, testing and training upgrade programme that encourages and ensures ongoing access to safe motorcycling, so as to benefit riders, the transport system and the motorcycle and motorcycle training industries.
Kenward added; “We are also delighted that Mr Penning asked for industry, trainers and riders to be a core part of the DfT-led enquiry team. We welcome this new approach to partnership with Government and look forward to working with Ministers and the department on developing a world class motorcycle license access, testing and training upgrade programme.”