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.

The Transport Committee of the House of Commons has today (March 23rd) published a report castigating the DSA and the DfT for the way in which they brought in the new motorcycle test which is based on European legislation, the “Second EU Driving Licence Directive”.

The full report may be accessed at this link.

In the full report it reveals that up to the end of January there had been 212 reportable accidents since the start of Module 1 tests, 194 of which had been in the high speed swerve and emergency stop “exercises”. This causes the committee to comment that “The rate of incidents and accidents occurring in Module 1 tests need to be monitored carefully, and the DSA needs to react without delay if incident levels do not decline”

There’s a lot to read so if you want to just jump to the final “Conclusions and Recommendations” page then try this link where you find comments such as “There is little doubt that the Government has exceeded what was necessary to comply with the EU Directive”, “bizarre”, “confusing for candidates”, “The off-road motorcycle test effectively bars candidates from adapting their riding to reflect the prevailing weather, road and other circumstances” among others.

You may gather that the report does not exactly sing the praises of the DSA!

The DSA have released a consultation paper on their proposed changes to the new motorcycle test, before the new test is even implemented.

There is a Press Release on their website at “Consultation Paper” about this and they are also proposing to increase the test fee.

Their original intention was to have the test as a single event, both off and on road parts being done in a single session..

The proposed changes are to split the test into 2 “Modules”:-
Module 1 is to be the “Specified Manoeuvres Test”
Module 2 is to be the “Road Riding Test”

You must pass the first “Module” before you can take the second and each part is separately charged for.

There is also a proposal to increase the cost of the test from next October(2009) to £90:50.

Taken with the increase from £60:00 to £80:00 this September(2008) it will mean an increase of 51% in the cost of a motorcycle test. (In the same period the cost of a car test will have increased by 12%, to £63:50 so a motorcycle will cost half as much again as a car test.)

As this is an “on-line consultation excercise” they are asking for your comments, the link on page “Download Paper” will take you to another page on their site where you can download a copy of their “Consultation Paper” and also a “mail-in” reply form.

On the same page however is a link to an “Online Response Form” to allow you to pass on your views to them direct online.

The DSA have a ‘Performance Target’ that “In order to deliver the new EU motorcycle test [the DSA must] develop a network of off-road manoeuvering areas for motorcyclists; and by 29th September 2008, ensure that 51% or more of the population of Great Britain is within travelling time of 45 minutes to an MPTC or within 20 miles distance of an MPTC.”

The attached map shows those new test centres scheduled to be open as of the beginning of 2009.

They also state that “To date DSA has acquired 44 sites”. (There are 66 planned)
In addition they have another 2 for which they do not have planning permission.

A point to consider:- If a government body such as the DSA cannot find enough manoeuvering areas to run the tests, then what chance do the Training Bodies have of finding suitable practice areas?

Dateline Thursday 11th September

Word has just come through that the changes to the Practical Riding Test that were due to be implemented from Monday 29h September have been postponed .

There is the message below on the DSA website to this effect:-

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Latest News

Extra time granted for new motorcycle test

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has announced a delay of six months to the introduction of the new practical motorcycle test, originally scheduled for September 29, 2008.

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There has been controversy as to the introduction of this test due to the fact that only just over half of the proposed test centres capable of delivering it would be open by the due date.

There are currently over 250 test centres available for motorcycle tests, not quite 50% of the total number of test centres, and this would have reduced to only 39 centres on the 29th of this month, as listed in the previous posting of this blog, with another 27 centres projected so cover in some parts of the country is sparse.

There is no word as to whether the £20 fee increase scheduled begin on 29th September to pay for the new test is also to be deferred.