Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency
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An enhanced approach to learning - Have your say on the proposed modular motorcycling test
Proposals to improve the way motorcyclists are tested were published today by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).
The DSA consultation asks for views on proposals to split the current single-event motorcycling test into two parts.
Module 1 would contain the specified manoeuvres element of the test including exercises designed to assess the rider's ability to control their machine safely, including avoidance and emergency stop exercises carried out at a minimum speed of 50 kph.
Module 2 would include an eyesight test and up to 35 minutes of in-traffic riding assessing the rider's ability to safely interact with other road users.
DSA's Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:
"Statistics show that motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users - they make up just 1% of road traffic, but account for 20% of road deaths.
"A two-part modular test would introduce a step-by-step considered approach to riding a motorcycle and offer the candidate time to absorb each separate important stage to learning.
The new test may also offer a long term solution in terms of service provision for both the agency and the industry. I hope motorcyclists will consider these proposals and give us their views."
A six-week consultation period ending on January 9 will allow for motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry to present their views to the agency on these proposed changes.
If the changes are accepted DSA hopes to offer greater coverage of sites from which the specified manoeuvres element of the test may be taken. This could mean shorter journey times for candidates and trainers alike.
The motorcycle test fee will remain unchanged in March 2009. The price would be split across both modules - so candidates only have to pay for each section of the test as they take it. The proposed fee split is: £10 for Module 1 and £70 for Module 2.
As announced in the DSA Business plan 2008/2009 the cost of the motorcycling test would undergo its annual increment and rise to £90.50 in October 2009. The cost of Module 1 would be £15.50 and Module 2, £75.
Have your say online and view the consultation paper which is available at http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=594, or write to The Driving Standards Agency, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP.
Or for more information please call 0115 936 6092.
Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals must do so by 9 January 2009.
Notes to Editors:
For further information contact Sarah Newall at the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) Press Office on 0115 9366134.
1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency * of the Department for Transport.
2. The DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life" with an overall mission to contribute towards a Government target of achieving a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24 years, by 2010.
3. Current information on road casualties is available from the Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
4. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through setting standards for drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers; Driving Instructor Trainers and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers; supervising Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of learning resources.
5. DSA is a trading fund * with an expected turnover of around £199 million for the year 2008/9, fully funded by fee income and revenue from its activities.
6. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving examiners based at over 400 test centres across mainland Great Britain. In 2007/2008 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical tests for car drivers, over 95,000 vocational tests and 94,000 motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.7 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were around 43,600 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
7. DSA was one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an online booking service. Candidates can book and manage their theory and practical test appointments on line at http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest
* Executive agency:
An executive agency is semi-detached from
its parent department and manages its own budget with freedom from
ad hoc, day to day intervention and much of central,
government-wide regulation. They are run under the organisation
and direction of a Chief Executive recruited through open
competition. An executive agency has accountability for the
performance of specific operational tasks as a corporate unit,
including focused performance targets set by the parent department
and personal accountability of the chief executive for performance.
* Trading Fund:
A trading fund is a means of financing
trading activities
undertaken by Government that would
previously have been financed
by annual appropriation from
Parliament. A trading fund permits the establishment of a
self-accounting unit that remains under the control and management
of Ministers and accountable to Parliament through Ministers, but
has greater freedom to manage its financial affairs. Effectively
that means the trading fund body can use its income to settle its
liabilities and retain year-end cash balances.
Establishing the trading fund does not alter the Agency's constitutional position and it remains part of the Department for Transport.
