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The RMI's Motorcycle Rider Training Association (MRTA) has today written to Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (DfT) with responsibility for the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), to call for implementation of the new motorcycle test to be deferred.

The new test is due to be introduced on 29 September 2008 as a result of new requirements included in the Second EC Driving Licence Directive (Directive 2000/56/EC). The DSA's chosen implementation depends upon the development of a minimum of 66 new Multi Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) around the country. This will allow certain elements of the test to be conducted 'off-road' before the usual 'on-road' test.

At present, the DSA is only on target to have less than 40 MPTCs operational by the implementation date. The DSA has considered a motorcycle/training industry call for some transitional arrangements including use of temporary sites, but there will only be around 14 ready by the implementation date, and only with restricted availability.

As a result MRTA members have increasingly expressed strong concern via both a recent sample survey and sustained feedback about the effect on lives and livelihoods.

Commenting on this situation, MRTA Chairman Kevin Bryan said; 'The training industry has long expressed concern that the DSA was unlikely to meet its targets but nonetheless the MRTA has supported the Agency to the fullest extent possible to assist it towards implementation.

'However, it has become clear that with an MPTC network that is nowhere near complete and associated infrastructure and service provision issues including test booking and capacity concerns, Government has no option but to call a stop to this September implementation to avoid chaos in the training industry and unacceptable extra training costs to new riders.'

Bryan explains: 'MRTA members believe that the extremely long journey times to test centres for some novice riders could make training unaffordable in certain locations. This is expected to increase social exclusion for potential riders and lead to job losses in the training industry and the wider motorcycle market.'

Bryan adds: 'The MRTA can no longer support this implementation and therefore calls for it to be deferred for at least six months, or until such time as the full MPTC network is operational.'

The MRTA will be urging the Minister on his return from the summer recess to urgently review this situation and stop this implementation.

Hear hear.

Hopefully this abysmally poorly planned scheme will be shelved til they can meet the targets.

Does DSA stand for Department for Stupid Arseholes?

I think this was an issue last summer and its even worse now.

Personally I think Europe is a living nightmare of stupid regulations.

All politicians who support this should be hung drawn and quartered.

Gio wrote: Personally I think Europe is a living nightmare of stupid regulations.

The nightmare is often caused by the way our government chooses to interpret the regulations.

BikerGran wrote:

Gio wrote: Personally I think Europe is a living nightmare of stupid regulations.

The nightmare is often caused by the way our government chooses to interpret the regulations.

We have a Government, I am shocked

The new test is due to be introduced on 29 September 2008

The MRTA will be urging the Minister on his return from the summer recess to urgently review this situation and stop this implementation

Unfortunately recess doesn't end till 6th Oct so when the minister returns it will already be too late.

Dave

Just what I like to see "perfect timing".
We will probably get an apologetic reply stating that they would have liked to delay the implementation, but unfortunately it is now too late.
As long as they achieve their ambition of stopping more people from taking up biking they will be happy.

From the Government Petitions Online..

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page16669

Read the Government’s response

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is responsible for the provision of theory and practical driving tests throughout Great Britain. The UK and other EU countries agreed to comply with European Community Directive 2000/56/EC, which introduces major changes to the way we test learner motorcyclists. The changes, which take place on 29 September this year, include new manœuvres which must be carried out at speeds of between 30 and 50kph. This will be a major contribution to road safety, particularly in respect of motorcycle and moped riders who have been identified as a group having a high risk of injury or death, particularly among young and inexperienced riders.
Following consultation, it was decided for road safety reasons that these new manoeuvres could not be carried out on public roads and so DSA has needed to find suitable sites to conduct the new test. It is building a national network of multi-purpose test centres (MPTC) across the country, offering in most places car tests as well as motorcycle tests, and in some places, bus and lorry tests. DSA will meet its travelling criterion of 20 miles and 45 minutes for most customers by 29 September.

DSA has always been committed to the provision of tests to candidates living in rural and semi-rural locations and, for this reason, it is providing test centres in some of the more remote areas of the country.

In attempting to provide these MPTCs DSA has faced huge challenges. In particular, it has had to operate in an intensely competitive land market and local councils have often been reluctant to grant planning permission for these unusual developments. Despite these difficulties, significant progress has been made and there will be 38 MPTCs in use on 29 September. DSA has also been working closely with its sister Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to allow the delivery of part-time testing from 12 of its sites from 29 September for tests at weekends

yes

I note the correct and none sue able phrases from the muppet, sorry civil servant who drafted that reply

But lets look at the maths here. 69 sites were needed, 39 will be open. according to Mr M Uppet, this is a significant number - too fucking right ponzo - by your own figures 40 odd percent of people will not have these new testing areas, so will be forced to travel further for longer and so on....

ie, we do not give a shit, and we cannot pass the buck to anyone else so blah blah blah....

Yes - I got the e-mail too.

The changes, which take place on 29 September this year, include new manœuvres which must be carried out at speeds of between 30 and 50kph. This will be a major contribution to road safety, particularly in respect of motorcycle and moped riders who have been identified as a group having a high risk of injury or death, particularly among young and inexperienced riders.

Think I might write back to ask for the data that demonstrates that the stunt riding elements of a test will lead to a reduction in death and injury to inexperienced riders.
I'm guessing this is just speculation and conjecture based on no research. If so, were it an advert, I'd guess it would be considered a false claim that it will deliver this.

...... yet this is the premise for the whole change ......

There again, I don't know - so maybe they can furnish me with the facts.

I also don't think that there will be a major improvement in road safety in some of the inexperienced riders travelling big distances to the test centres on 50cc mopeds restricted to 30mph on roads that were never designed for these bikes (or bikes that were never designed for these roads) - tis madness!

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is responsible for the provision of theory and practical driving tests throughout Great Britain. The UK and other EU countries agreed to comply with European Community Directive 2000/56/EC, which introduces major changes to the way we test learner motorcyclists. The changes, which take place on 29 September this year ...

..... the changes that take place on 29th September IN THOSE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NOT DELAYED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT YET READY ......

Yes, elsewhere in Europe, those in charge have had the good sense to postpone the introduction until they are ready. Same problem, sensible solution.

Yesterday's update.
http://www.autowired.co.uk/news/article ... ryid=19645

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

Sounds a good button to have pushed.