BRITAIN'S MOTORCYCLE industry faces a huge uphill battle next year as EU laws are set to drastically cut the number of centres in the UK capable of conducting tests, making it harder than ever for riders to gain a full licence.
According to official government figures from September 29 only 66 of the current 233 centres in the UK will be able to pass students due to a new part of the test forced into effect by the EU, meaning riders will have to travel further than ever to complete their licences.
From this date every new rider taking the practical part of their test will have to pass a new 'hazard avoidance' test before being allowed to proceed to the road assessment. Fail this new test and you won't even get to take the road ride.
On the face of it this isn't a bad thing. The 'hazard avoidance' test is designed to ensure that new riders are trained to avoid a crash by aggressive cornering. In effect the test consists of the student riding at a cone and swerving away from it at the last minute. The problem is it has to be conducted in a safe off-road environment, such as a tarmac car park. Only 66 test centres in the UK have such a facility. From the end of September if the centre isn't one of these 66 then it can't pass you. Simple. But all is not as it seems.
“While the government are saying there will be 66 we believe it could be as low as half of that, 33 centres ready in time,” said Craig Carey-Clinch from the UK's Motorcycle Industry Association, who has been running a campaign to encourage riders to take their test before the law change. “It's a huge issue as the number of people waiting to take their test could soon over-load the test system. This could easily damage biking as a whole, the government needs to get its act together.”
The Driving Standards Agency, who are responsible for the UK's test centres claims it has done everything possible to smooth the introduction of this new law.
“Most customers should be able to reach a bike-testing facility within 45 minutes, travelling no more than 20 miles. The locations for the new facilities have been very carefully selected and will ensure that in excess of 80% of the population of Great Britain will fall within those criteria; around 95% will be within 60 minutes of such a facility; and around 99% will be within 90 minutes of a centre,“ said a spokesperson.
The best advice is if you are considering passing your test, or know someone who is planning it, is to stop thinking about it and do it now. For more information on how to pass your test log onto the DSA's website at www.dsa.gov.uk or the Motorcycle Industry Association's at www.mcia.co.uk.
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