BMF slam new bike test ‘disaster’
Added on Monday, October 5th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | One Comment
BMF slam new bike test ‘disaster’
The BMF have branded the new motorcycle test a `disaster’ in their submission to the government’s Transport Select Committee. A selected group of MPs will examine the new bike test and the problems surrounding its implementation. The BMF and other groups have been invited to submit findings to the enquiry.
The first thing the BMF have noted is that the introduction of the new motorcycle test, with a controversial brake and swerve section, aimed at testing new riders’ bike handling skills, has brought about a dramatic reduction in the numbers of learners taking the test. The slow rate of building new dedicated motorcycle test centres has also been a factor in this decline, which has led to tests being at their lowest number for five years.
Some riders face a round trip of 220 miles to visit a test centre, which is totally unacceptable, say the BMF.
The BMF also note that the EU directive, which caused the test rules to be changed in the first place, specifies that new riders be tested on braking and swerving around an obstacle, as separate actions, not necessarily both actions in one. The interpretation by the DSA has been a factor in causing a spate of accidents during tests, highlighted by MCN, and insidebikes readers.
The BMF is also critical of the way DSA testers make no allowances for the difficulty that low powered 125cc machines have in reaching the 50kph ( 31mph ) required minimum speed for the brake and swerve manouevre. Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain, or freezing air, are not taken into account during emergency braking tests either.
Elements such as learning to ride a figure of eight at low speed are also criticised by the BMF as being of `dubious value’ and they question how this low speed riding can help any learner cope with modern traffic.
Chris Hodder from the BMF said; ” We have been campaigning on this issue for eight years. When will the DSA wake up and admit they are wrong? The situation in remote areas is now dire and I can see many young riders resorting to being a permanent learner, or riding illegally.”
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One Comment
Simon O'Brien
October 6th, 2009It’s about time someone in an official capacity said this. I passed my test just before it changed and the examiner used parts of the new test to ‘try them out’. I had to ride a figure of eight while he walked beside me he said that when the new test came into force, if I put a foot down once it would be a failure. As for the DSA admitting they’re wrong, when has any government body ever admitted that?