The Shape of The Forthcoming New Motorcycle Test – Important Background Information

Industry highly critical of DSA generated confusion and misconception about motorcycle test research
The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) is today setting out its position on background research for the forthcoming new test, which is currently being undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). MCI is concerned that the research is raising concerns among motorcycle trainers and the wider community that there may be plans for inappropriate off road exercises to be included in the single on-road test.

During Governmental meetings which took place prior to the start of the research (September), All external stakeholders, MCI MCITA, MAG and BMF expressed great discomfort about the TRL research. Previous meetings had all given stakeholders the impression that only the proposed new 50 kph manoeuvres (hazard avoidance and emergency stop) would be researched. It was instead discovered that all current Module 1 test manoeuvres are being trialled during ‘on road’ (simulated tests).

It was made it very clear that industry, trainers and riders did not want the slow manoeuvres as part of the trial process as it implied that we, as the expert stakeholders, felt it might be possible to include these in the ‘single event test’. It was also felt to be a waste of money. However, the DfT and DSA made it clear that the purpose of trialling the slow manoeuvres was to eliminate them from the test on safety grounds and would not change the research specification.

Industry made further objections. MCI takes the view that by including inappropriate exercises (figure of 8 and slalom) in the trials, trainers not involved in discussions would develop a prejudice against the idea of the new on road test. The DfT agreed to produce a supplementary summary to be widely circulated to reassure trainers that it was not the intention to put the slalom or figure of 8 on the road, but to eliminate them. However, this summary was not distributed to the widest possible number of trainers or the motorcycle media.

MCI has subsequently received a large number of complaints from trainers, who have taken the incorrect view that industry has been campaigning to have these slow manoeuvres included in the on road test. This is of course not the case, neither we believe, is it the intention of the Government to include the exercises in the forthcoming on-road test.

Industry is extremely concerned that its views on how the research would be perceived by trainers have turned out to be correct and that we now have trainers opposed to the on-road test for reasons which don’t actually exist.

MCI considers it to be highly unfortunate, indeed negligent, that the DSA has done little to allay trainers fears. We are given to wonder why the DSA has acted in this way.

It is worth reiterating that neither MCI, the riders groups, safety groups or trainers want to see the figure of 8 or the EU mandatory slalom tested on the road as we do not feel it is safe to do so.

MCI requests that the media continues to take an interest in this area and requests that coverage focuses on correcting the misconceptions about the forthcoming new test which have emerged

3DLD – News on Minimum Test Motorcycles at Last
With the European Third driving Licence Directive due to come into law in 2013, there has been mounting concern within industry and among motorcycle trainers about the lack of clarity relating to the minimum specification for motorcycles to be used for the test.

Despite numerous requests to the European Commission and various lobby actions from the European industry (ACEM), the EC has proved to be very slow in illuminating the situation, which has led to uncertainty in relation to product planning and for trainers an inability to plan machine purchases during 2012/13

The good news is that the specification has now been agreed by the EU, which means that trainers will now be able to select the bikes they need for the 3DLD motorcycle test.