MCI make training recommendations
Added on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
MCI make training recommendations
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has called for an emphasis on rider training rather than arbitrary tests to be the long-term goal for the motorcycle licensing regime.
With the current motorcycle test coming under increasing scrutiny and criticism, the MCI has claimed that the government should be considering progressive training as a long-term alternative to the one-off testing system.
The call comes as the government announces new measures on rider testing, training, examination and licensing which are being introduced as a result of European regulations. These include a requirement for novice riders to take tests at every stage of the ‘Progressive Access’ route to a licence for large bikes.
From 2013, the Third Driving Licence Directive (3DLD) will be introduced into UK law, according to proposals from the Department for Transport (DfT). The new measures have been developed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), both are DfT agencies.
However, MCI says that the proposed measures still fall short of what is needed to make a real improvement to motorcycle safety. Although Government proposals include many industry recommendations, the MCI believes that the consultation was flawed and not fit for purpose.
“Training providers have been sceptical about the DSA’s ability to introduce a progressive training scheme and the way the DSA presented their view of the cost of the training has created a lack of confidence in its commercial viability,” claimed MCI CEO Steve Kenward. “Indeed, the DSA have proved to be inflexible on the whole issue of training versus testing.
“So although we recognise that the Government intends to go down the testing route for now, industry still believes that a training based route to a full licence should be considered the longer term goal.
“In light of the recent Parliamentary Select Committee report that called for the DSA to take more seriously the views of the motorcycle industry and trainers the MCI is urging the Government to approach the new legislative changes in a way that will avoid unnecessary problems or delays as the training, testing and licensing regime evolves and include both the testing and training option in forthcoming legislation.”
Government proposals replace the current two categories of motorbike with three – A1 (up to 125cc), A2 (up to 35Kw) and A (above 35Kw) – and new rules introduced for riders of larger bikes. Riders wanting to progress to larger categories of motorbikes will have to take a further test and there will be a rise in the minimum age from 21 to 24 for those wishing to start riding larger bikes without previous experience via the “Direct Access” route.
Other changes mean that riders moving from smaller to larger motorcycles will not need to do a familiarisation course as originally proposed in the consultation. Riders who have had a full licence for smaller bike for two years or more will need to be accompanied by an Authorised Trainer, while learning on larger bikes on public roads, until they have passed their test.
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