The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and Transport for London (TfL), together with a host of safety and public transport organisations, have called for long-overdue changes to the motorcycle rider training rules. In a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, the organisations emphasise the potential safety improvements available from Compulsory Basic Training (CBT), changes which were announced by the DVSA in 2017 – but not acted on.
The signatories to the letter have asked the government to prioritise these changes, which include a variety of technical and practical alterations (see boxout) to the CBT system and the licensing and training environment as a whole.
NMC executive director Craig Carey-Clinch said: “The changes we call for in our joint letter today were agreed by government several years ago, and their introduction is long overdue. We urge the Secretary of State and the DfT to commence work to implement this positive and potentially life-saving legislation. Our letter marks a moment when the motorcycle sector, public authorities and road safety organisations have come together to achieve positive change. We urge the government to take note and act in partnership with all parties to make these changes to CBT and also to other areas of motorcycle safety so that a more sustainable and proactive approach can be taken to support casualty reduction for this important mode of mobility, transport and leisure.”
Tony Campbell, CEO at the MCIA, said: “I stand with the letter signatories in expressing our collective concern for road safety and the need to improve CBT. Although it is disheartening that, despite the widespread support, recommended changes proposed by the DVSA following the “Improving Moped and Motorcycle Training” consultation have yet to be implemented, together we can strive for safer roads and the well-being of all road users.
“The time has come for the government to listen and act. Let us work hand-in-hand to bring about the necessary updates and improvements to CBT, ensuring a safer and more inclusive future for moped, motorcycle and other powered light vehicle users across the nation.”
Proposed changes
The letter signatories are asking the government to implement the following changes to rider training:
- Introduction of a training course to upgrade motorcycle licence entitlements
- The creation of powers to revoke CBT certificates or take other measures for learner riders who have accrued six penalty points
- Restriction of learners who complete CBT on an automatic transmission machine to riding only automatic machines and provision for upgrading entitlement to manual machines for riders with such a restriction
- Establishment of a combined CBT and DAS instructor qualification assessment
- Limiting the time period that down-trained instructors can give instruction
- Changes to the CBT syllabus, including requiring instructors to ensure trainees are appropriately attired for riding
- Condensing the five elements of CBT to four
- Strengthening the quality assurance scheme for motorcycle instructors
- Introduction of the theory test as part of or prior to CBT
- Digitising the CBT administration process
- Implementation of earned recognition
The signatory organisations are: MCIA, NMC, TfL, Brake, Roadpeace, Transport North East, Transport for West Midlands, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), Transport for Greater Manchester, RoSPA, and Project EDWARD