xsmotorcycleschool.co.uk blog

The Driving Test both for bikes and cars is being changed as of 4th October 2010 by introducing an “Independent Driving” element.

In this the candidate is told basically to “Follow the signs to…..” and left to get on with it.

There is a page up on this on the DSA web site, Click Here where they “explain” their intentions with link to a “You Tube” video with a mock test and candidate interviews, Direct link to You Tube Click Here..

Hopefully the implementation of this will be less “problematic” than that of their previous “improvements”.

There is no mention as to an increase in the test fee to cover the additional costs of this addition.

On You Tube I found a series of clips taking you through the new test.

Looks as though it may be from an official DSA source, but it has been made before they decided to split the test into two parts, what they are calling “Modules”.

Anyway there are 13 of these clips  so here are the links to them, once each clip has finished running, just click on the “Back” button on your browser to return to this blog posting:-

(Added 15-5-09)

This has definitely been taken from the DSA  video and so is “Crown Copyright” material.

(1) Introduction
(2) New DSA Bike Test Part 1
(3) New DSA Bike Test Part 2
(4) New DSA Bike Test Part 3
(5) New DSA Bike Test Part 4
(6) New DSA Bike Test Part 5
(7) New DSA Bike Test Part 6
(8) New DSA Bike Test Part 7
(9) New DSA Bike Test Part 8
(10) New DSA Bike Test Part 9
(11) New DSA Bike Test Part 10
(12) New DSA Bike Test Part 11
(13) New DSA Bike Test Part 12
(14) New DSA Bike Test Part 13

(These files are DSA copyright)

Further to their “Consultation Document” the DSA are going ahead with their changes to the motorcycle test.

Their new “new test” is now to commence on 27^th April, with bookings available from 30^th March, after which it will be necessary to first take and pass the initial “off road” test at one of their official “Off Road Manoeuvring Areas”

(Click on maps for an enlarged view)

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Having succeeded with this you can then book your “On Road Test”, not necessarily at the same “Driving  Test Centre” because with splitting the test it has been decided to offer the “On Road” part at a number of the older Driving Test Centres as well as at the new MPTC’s.

As can be seen from the maps, if you live to the North of the Hull to Liverpool line, cover for the first part of the test is “sparse” and  you are still faced with a l-o-n-g ride to a Test Centre but things are a little better for the second part.

So the procedure to a Full motorcycle licence after taking a CBT will be to :-

1. Book and pass a “Written Theory Test”

2. Book and pass an “Off Road Manoeuvring Test”

3. Book and pass a “Practical On-Road Riding Test”

In spite of a majority of the Consultation’s replies being to the contrary the DSA still intend to raise the test fee, so that the fee will have increased for a motorcycle test by 52% while in the same period the car test fee will only have increased by 12.5%.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get a pay increase of 12.5% this year, never mind one of 52%! it’s better than working for a Bank!

As you know, at the end of this month the 250 odd motorcycle test centres across the UK are to close and all motorcycle tests are to be carried out at 66 new “Multi Purpose Test Centres” spread across the country.

The start up date for the new test at these new centres is Monday 29th September and it is admitted that only 39 of the new centres will be open for business.

A listing of where will and will not be open has been published and is shown here. The new test centre at Herne Bay should also be open by then.

(Click on the listing below to view an enlarged image)