Report slams DSA over test blunders
Added on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Report slams DSA over test blunders
A Transport Committee report has accused the Government and the Driving Standards Agency of “bungling” the implementation of the new motorcycle tests, failing to listen to the concerns of the motorcycle industry and wasting “millions” of pounds on the introduction of new “super” test centres.
The report, commissioned to address the controversial implementation of a new, European standard, motorcycle test claimed that it was unacceptable that, even 11 months after the initial implementation date, the DSA had failed to get all 66 planned Multi Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) open and that the decision to close down many smaller, functional testing centres was “unjustified”.
The report also stated that no other European country has opted to build new MPTCs in order to implement the new testing regime.
The decision to close many test centres in favour of MPTCs has meant that many motorcycle test candidates could face journeys of up to two hours just to reach their nearest test centre.
“Many candidates and trainers now have to travel too far for their motorcycle test. This adds to the cost, and in some cases, exposes candidates to fast and dangerous roads on the way to a test site-before they have even taken their test,” said Committee Chair, Louise Ellman MP. “The Driving Standards Agency needs to give much greater priority to customer service and convenience for test candidates and trainers.”
In its report, The New European Motorcycle Test, MPs concluded that the Driving Standards Agency was “slow and dogmatic” in its approach to test centres, failing to listen adequately to the motorcycle industry.
“A more pragmatic approach would have cost far less for all concerned,” added Mrs Ellman. “Problems with the new test booking systems and opening hours have been bad for business. If the new test brings financial ruin to the motorcycle training industry then we will have gone backwards.”
The Committee accepted that the Government had been led by Brussels on the implementation of the new test, adding that it was right to include manoeuvres that were not necessarily required by the European directive.
However, the Committee did have criticism of the controversial ‘swerve’ manoeuvre, claiming that it was “bizarre” that the manoeuvre had to be performed at 50km (31.7mph) – a speed that is not permitted in built up areas in the UK and a unit of measure that is not commonly used in the UK. The report suggested that ministers should have negotiated an exemption from this element.
Further recommendations reiterated a previous recommendation from 2007 that the current voluntary registration of motorcycle instructors be made mandatory. It was also recommended that the DSA should continue to carefully monitor the number of accidents that occur during the test.
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