Image: MAG
The Government is being urged to carry out a full review of the existing motorcycle licencing regime, with claims it is impacting the safety of young riders.
At present, in order to ride a motorcycle or scooter of any type, riders must take a Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course. This takes an average of five to seven hours to complete.
For those aged 16 years, this entitles them to ride a moped. Upon turning 17 years, they can ride a motorcycle up to 125cc.
The Government says the CBT ensures riders can travel safely on their own while they practise for their full moped or motorcycle test.
However, a new report, led by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), shows that for every five CBT certificates issued, just one full licence is achieved.
So why is this?
MAG believes there are a number of reasons many new riders simply abandon riding in favour of less environmentally friendly cars.
For example, for those whose ambition is to commute on a 125cc motorcycle, there is no justification for the cost of obtaining a full licence.
MAG also points to the fact that young riders wanting to get a full licence and ride larger capacity bikes cannot make the jump directly from a CBT until they reach 24 years of age.
What’s more, the report highlights that there is ‘no way of knowing’ how many riders are currently riding on L plates. MAG worries this is impacting their safety, due to a lack of training.
Data shows that young riders account for 28% of all motorcycle casualties. The comparative figure for young drivers is 18%.
MAG notes that the comparison normalises for the relative safety of the two modes, but ‘clearly shows that young riders are more likely to suffer than young drivers’.
It says ‘the connection to the proportion of unqualified young riders seems hard to refute’.
Colin Brown, MAG’s director of campaigns and political engagement, said: “I don’t claim to have all the answers on how to improve the current regime. But I do think this study reveals that there is a genuine and pressing need for change.
“We want better safety outcomes from the system.
“Also, we need to remove entry barriers to motorcycling. As a transport mode it offers a real solution for reducing transport congestion and emissions. It’s time to accentuate the benefits, not suppress them.”
Surely the government can easily enhance the CBT to allow riders to claim a full licence for anything up to 500cc and a restriction on horsepower. Or would that interfere with the monopoly of power held by dvsa examiners ?
John williams, Newtown
0
There a also a problem where you can qualify on a 50cc automatic twist and go, but then move up to a 125 geared bike with no training on how to use the clutch and change gear. On a 50 cc you are probably safer riding to the left, on a 125 cc you are probably safer riding on the RHS of your lane. Riders need to be retrained.
Michael Abbott, Newark
+1
National Young Rider Forum support this MAG report in highlighting the issues young motorcyclists face and the fact that more young riders are injured in RTC’s than young drivers despite a huge difference in numbers, miles travelled ect.
For some reason, when it comes to prioritising road user group funding, our young motorcyclists come at the bottom of the list and there needs to be some ‘levelling up’ on funding streams available to support our youngest motorised road users.
National Young Rider Forum focus is entirely on young riders aged 16 to 24 on machines of 125cc or less, please check our website http://www.newriderhub.net and contact me, the NYRF facilitator for more information to join us to support our young riders going forward as the next generation of road users.
Heidi Duffy MBE, Nottinghamshire.
+1
Should be based on hp not cc, regarding mini bikes. 60 not fast enough, hit a hill or head on wind, now doing 50. Can’t get out the way of slow drivers. 8.8 or 9 hp I’d not good because you can’t fit long enough gearing that will also pull to top gear. Fit a yx140 with 17 hp to the crank, 13 at the wheel, will do 70 with proper internal gearing and can now cruise at 65 on 12 inch wheels without worrying about getting rear ended by drivers who are more than happy to tailgate a mini bike. Perhaps 125 for brand new riders but anyone with dirt and road experience should be able uprate their engine hp after say a year.
Sir balnat, Brighton
+1