‘Tests need to change – now!’: Government under pressure to deliver motorbike training reforms agreed SIX years ago

Key changes to streamline motorbike tests and licence laws that were agreed by the Government a full six years ago must be implemented without further delay, major players in the British industry are demanding.

The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), the National Motorcyclists Council and rider organisations are urging ministers to implement improvements to the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) that were first agreed in 2017.

Twelve changes to the CBT were approved by the Department for Transport after a 2016 consultation. These include the introduction of a training course to upgrade motorcycle licence entitlements without having to re-do the same tests previously taken on a smaller bike and the introduction of a theory test as part of, or prior to, CBT and to condense the five elements of CBT into four.

Despite the motorbike test changes being announced by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in December 2017, the improvements are yet to be implemented. MCIA Director for Safety and Training, Karen Cole, told MCN: “There’s no more time for excuses. We need to crack on.”

The collective have written to Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, calling for action on the changes which they say are needed to improve safety, streamline the process and adapt to evolving motorcycle technology.

“If you take your CBT on an automatic you can ride a geared machine. It’s nice to be able to do that, but it’s a little bit dangerous,” added Cole.“We think that if you take CBT on an automatic, you should be able to do a short upgrade course and spend a couple of hours with a training school to make sure you can manage a geared bike. These things are common sense.”

In 2006 the EU brought in the Driving Licence Directive with one of its aims being to improve safety with a mandatory theory test and graduated access to bigger motorcycles, yet fatality figures have remained constant.

The groups are also calling for a change to the convoluted training system and the standards required by motorcycle instructors.

“If you take the A2 tests at 19, you do the Module One and the Module Two tests. If you want to ride a bigger bike, you then have to do the same Module One test and the same Module Two test, which is ridiculous,” said Cole.

“So, we want the implementation of a training course to upgrade motorcycle entitlements. If you’ve ridden an A2 bike for two years and want to ride an unlimited motorcycle, you could do a day’s training on the bike that you want to ride and get used to that machine.

“Whereas just taking the same test on a slightly bigger bike… it’s not teaching you anything, it’s just saying I am at the same standard I was two years ago.”

The DVSA, which is part of the Department for Transport, indicated in their strategic plan to 2025 the desire to ‘work with trainers on modern and flexible vocational and motorcycle training’ and to ‘propose a package of measures to improve the way motorcycle trainers provide for motorcycling on modern and future roads’ by 2025.

A DVSA representative added: “DVSA’s priorities are to improve motorcyclist and instructor training, which includes the CBT.

A newly-formed motorcycle strategic focus group is working closely with industry stakeholders to consider how to improve the safety of those involved in the motorcycling community, coupled with changes to motorcycle training and testing to ensure riders have the skills and knowledge they need for a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys.”

For the changes to the CBT and other areas to be implemented, legislative reform will be needed but these may be interrupted by a possible 2024 General Election.

“If we start now, that could be a challenge, but I don’t think that’s another excuse for waiting another 18 months,” said Cole. “We waited for Brexit. We waited for Covid, but you can’t just keep waiting. You’ve got to put a line in the sand.”