BBC South news item re new motorcycle test

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TC · #1 Post by TC » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:40 pm

Good article from the BBC which goes to show just how well the DSA have thought out the new bike test

Makes me glad I no longer instruct

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7413809.stm

Samray · #2 Post by **Samray** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:59 pm

You could almost believe the lieing cow actually believes the garbage she spouts.

D-Rider · #3 Post by **D-Rider** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:08 pm

Damn ..... I get this:

Cannot play media. Sorry, this media is not available in your territory.

Bet the link will be dead when I get home

HowardQ · #4 Post by **HowardQ** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:42 pm

You can guess the story Andy.
Only slight surprise is the excellent report on the situation from the BBC, which supports the views of most bikers and training establishments and goes to some length to explain the problems new bikers will have.
No surprise is the typical political reply from the DSA lady, explaining how there are no problems really, everybody is within about 40 minutes of a test centre. These people like the normal mainstream politicians are trained to lie to the public and in most cases I don't even think they realise they are actually doing it. Just go out there with stats to prove the other lot wrong, and Joe Public won't know who to believe.
Well it's simple really, believe a super reliable friendly politican or hooligan biker that drives around everywher at 200 mph.
The fact that this could turn lots of people away from starting biking is the big added bonus for them.

BikerGran · #5 Post by **BikerGran** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:50 pm

It will also mean that there will be a lot more unlicensed riders around which is gonna be bad for them, for us, and for everyone else as well.

About the test itself - does the whole thing take place off road? Cos if it does, I can't see how it's going to produce safer riders if they haven't demonstrated that they can cope with normal traffic.

TC · #6 Post by TC » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:03 pm

BikerGran wrote:It will also mean that there will be a lot more unlicensed riders around which is gonna be bad for them, for us, and for everyone else as well.

About the test itself - does the whole thing take place off road? Cos if it does, I can't see how it's going to produce safer riders if they haven't demonstrated that they can cope with normal traffic.

The new part of the test is in addition to what they currently have to do.

So it will be CBT, Theory/Hazard Perception, The new off road test and then the on road test as is currently required.

There are quite a few elements of the new test which have been badly thought out, it will mean an additional test fee as well as additional costs that will have to be paid to the school, and I imagine that quite a few people will fail the new element becaue of the way it is structured

We will have to wait and see, but this wonderfull Government (sorry Dictatorship

) seem hell bent on making obtaining a bike licence as difficult and as expensive as they can!!

D-Rider · #7 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:08 pm

Thought this was one that was imposed as part of pan-European harmonization and our government argued against it.
That said, they have a lot to answer for in the poor provision of facilities as this becomes a requirement.

TC · #8 Post by TC » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:03 pm

D-Rider wrote:Thought this was one that was imposed as part of pan-European harmonization and our government argued against it.
That said, they have a lot to answer for in the poor provision of facilities as this becomes a requirement.

Italy and Germany opposed it as they felt it would have an adverse affect ontheir motorcycle industry and Germany already has quite a stiff test at high cost, but our lot welcomed it with open arms

The reason for this is that if we don't implement it, the UK gets fined, doesn't matter that other countries get fined and tell the EU to shove it, as usually we roll over with a whimper and cowtail to the eurocrats!

We already had possibly one of the stiffest tests in Europe if not the world and figures have shown that the current system we have is quite sufficient and certainly better than the car test which does need addressing and I believe is currently under review.

But then the Italians were pushing for every full car licence holder to be given an automatic upgrade to a full bike licence after 2 years

Now that would have been worrying

D-Rider · #9 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:18 pm

Ah - I must have remembered wrong or picked up some misinformation. Thanks for clearing that up TC.

Gio · #10 Post by **Gio** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:14 pm

TC wrote:But then the Italians were pushing for every full car licence holder to be given an automatic upgrade to a full bike licence after 2 years Now that would have been worrying

Ah yes and you know why?

Around 45% of motorcyclists in Italy don't have a bike licence at all, along with no insurance.

Bike shops will sell any bike to anyone regardless of if they look under age or incapable.

On Romes equivalent of our M25, in about 10km 2 years ago I saw 3 bike accidents and in all cases there were no other vehicles involved.