From 27 April 2009, the DSA is introducing a new motorcycle practical test. For those of you that do not yet have a full motorcycle license, a lot is about to change!

The current test

Currently, the test involves just riding on the road, with the examiner on a separate vehicle following you, telling you via intercom where to go - as well as an eyesight test and some bike maintenance/handling questions. You need to make sure you follow all the rules, ride at the appropriate speed, appropriate position on the road, and so on. Sometime during this test, you will need to show two special manoeuvres; a U-turn and an emergency stop. both are usually done one after the other - the examiner will ask you to pull over and get off your bike. He will then tell you to push the bike (while walking!) in a U-turn to the other side of the road. Then you should get on the bike, start it and when it is safe, do a U-turn to the position you initially stopped at. Then he will give you instructions for your Emergency Stop manoeuvre; at a speed of about 20-25 mph approach the examiner, when he raises his hand, you bring the motorcycle to a stop, safely and as quickly as you can, without any skidding or loss of control! When you’re stopped, you check your mirrors, put it in first gear, check your shoulders, indicate left and pull over on the side of the road.

So far so good, you basically need to know how to ride on the road; abiding by the rules and without interfering with other traffic. One would think that that would be all that can reasonably be expected from a new rider……….. But apparently not so - because this new test is being introduced!

The new test

Apparently the DSA seems to think that motorcyclists and moped riders are a hazard to themselves and/or other road users (”They have a high risk of injury or death”) - not taking into account that if you’re on two wheels without protective bodywork surrounding you, you will always have a higher risk of injury or death, even if the accident wasn’t your fault to begin with.

So they’re introducing this new test which is supposed to make every new rider extremely skilled and safe on the road. The new test will have two parts; an off road part where various manoeuvres are to be performed at slow as well as higher speeds and an on road part, which seems to be quite similar to what the current test is. So the off road part is where the problem lies:

• at least 2 slow speed manoeuvres including a slalom
• at least 2 higher speed manoeuvres; one at 19mph or more (second or third gear) and one exercise where you need to avoid an obstacle at 32mph or more.
• at least 2 braking manoeuvres, including an emergency stop at 32mph or more.

This causes a whole host of problems; not only is the level of expertise they demand extremely high and unreasonable for a new rider, also do some of the minimum speed requirements exclude certain lower cc vehicles from even being used for the test (In a limited space, get to 32mph and swerve to avoid an obstacle stop without riding off the course!)

One of the slow speed manoeuvres involves for instance riding your bike in first gear while the examiner walks around the course at varying speeds, and you’re supposed to stay next to him at his pace throughout.

OK so it’s tough, but practically what will change?

At the moment, it is possible for a novice to do a 5 day training course with an approved motorcycle training school and pass the practical test at the end of it. This currently would cost maybe around 600-700 quid (depending on whether you hire a bike or use your own).

However, talking to some of the instructors I’ve learned from myself, they found the new test extremely tough themselves! And I’m talking about guys with years and years of riding experience!

So for the new test, any course you were planning on taking, add another two days (roughly £200) on top of that, and MAYBE you’ll pass. So for a complete beginner, at least 7 days of consecutive training will be required. For a more experienced rider, 5 days instead of 3.

The implications do not just end there. If it’s so difficult to pass a test, many people may just give up before starting. The instructor I learned from is already looking at alternate career options, should nobody want to do motorcycle training any more after the new test is introduced.

It’s not rocket science to figure out that if the test is more difficult, less people will do it. Instead they might ride without a license (not ideal) or they will keep driving cars and whatever else can be driven with a car license (trikes, quads, etc.) which in turn will increase congestion.

All I can say is, I’m glad I passed my test before this insanity started. And not only is this a prime example that people sitting behind desks shouldn’t actually make any decisions, it is also an absolute triumph for red-tapeism - from those that invented it!