MCI campaign against test chaos
Added on Thursday, September 4th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Bike tests will be held at just a handful of dedicated test centres.
Representatives from the motorcycle industry met Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick on Wednesday, to press the industry’s case for a six month delay to the introduction of new test procedures scheduled for the end of this month.
Representatives from the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), the Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) and Riders Edge (Harley-Davidson rider training) were given the opportunity to explain their concerns to Mr Fitzpatrick and senior representatives of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) over the forthcoming reforms to the motorcycle test system and made the call for a delay to the schemes introduction.
The call for a delay is also backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the Motorcycle Action Group and the British Motorcyclists Federation.
On September 29th the motorcycle test is due to change, introducing new manoeuvres required under a European Directive. The DSA has chosen to implement the directive by concentrating motorcycle tests at about 60 planned multi-purpose test centres around the UK. Currently there are around 260 motorcycle test centres and the DSA proposals would slash this number by 80%. At present, only 39 test centres will be ready to conduct motorcycle tests on September 29.
The industry’s concerns are centred on the road safety risks to novice riders who in many cases will be forced to ride long distances in order to take a motorcycle test.
Following the meeting with the Transport Minister, Craig Carey-Clinch of the MCI said: “The Minister was receptive and we had what I believe was a productive meeting. The discussion with Mr Fitzpatrick and the DSA was frank and constructive, and we must now hope for a swift decision to delay the new test procedure until more test centres are available.”
Echoing these comments, the MRTA’s Frank Finch said: “As well as hearing our views about the road safety implications, the Minister was also receptive to the business arguments in that the industry faces a £40 million loss of revenue as well as significant job losses, should the new test proceed with too few multi-purpose test centres.”
Craig Carey-Clinch added: The motorcycle industry, MRTA and training organisations are fully supportive of the new test, which should help to produce more competent and safer riders. But we believe that if the new test is introduced in a few weeks as planned, the motorcycle test system is likely to crash and administrative chaos will ensue, discouraging people from taking their riding test, and compromising longer term road safety goals.
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