Is The New Uk Motorcycle Test 2009 Causing Safety Issues For Motorcycle And Moped Riders?

The new DSA Motorcycle Test 2009 has recently been under public scrutiny due to the number of crashes within the first few weeks of its use

. The aim of the test was to improve the standard of road safety for motorcycle riders and ultimately all road users. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) said that the new test was essential to help reduce the number of deaths of motorcyclists in the UK. However, within the first few weeks since the test was brought in (end of April 2009), there were approximately 15 incidents within the test centres, and one of the learners actually ended up with broken bones!

The instructors blame the new "swerve test" where learners have to reach a speed of approximately 30mph and then perform a swerve on special tracks. Many instructors say that this is extremely dangerous, particularly in wet weather conditions. Jeff Stone from the British Motorcyclists Federation told the BBC that "a brake and swerve manoeuvre on a wet road is fraught with danger for even an experienced motorcyclists". It is therefore difficult to understand why the DSA are putting such inexperienced learners at an unnecessary risk?

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) has in fact warned the government that the test is unsafe and requires fundamental changes. Paul Turner, the national chairman for MAG told the BBC news website that the test has been brought in "without enough consultation or consideration for riders". In fact, he told the BBC that many of the test centres were not ready for the new test, and subsequently he argues that it was "very poorly implemented".

Statistics from the Department of Transport have revealed that whilst there has been a decline in the number of motorcyclists being killed on UK roads in the past years, the number of casualties have started to gradually rise again. It is generally assumed that motorcyclists are often the cause of accidents, rather than the victims. However, this is not the case and there is evidence to suggest that many motorists are simply unaware of making themselves aware of motorcycles on the road and possible situations where they may encounter problems. Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all motorcycle accidents involve other vehicles, and many occur due to defective road-works, large potholes on the road and oil spillages that all pose dangers for motorcyclists and put them at undue risk.

FACT: According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the five most common motorcycle crashes are:

Failure to negotiate left hand bend on country A road;

Failure to negotiate right hand bend on country A road;

Collision at junctions;

Collision while overtaking;

Loss of control

by:Ramratten Singh Bhambra

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