This is because the industry aims to encourage more new people into motorcycling before new legislation is introduced later in 2008.
Given below are highlights of the new legislation for the new motorcycle test, this is to comply with European legislation which aims to improve the standard of road safety for motorcycle and moped riders. More information available through the website www.direct.gov.uk
What is different about the new motorcycle test?
The new EU standards set extra and more demanding special manoeuvres that must be included in every practical motorcycling test. These new standards include:
At least two manoeuvres being carried out at slow speed, including a slalom
At least two manoeuvres being carried out at higher speed, of which one manoeuvre should be in second or third gear, at a speed of at least 30 km/h (18.6 mph) and one manoeuvre avoiding an obstacle at a minimum speed of 50 km/h (31.1 mph)
At least two braking exercises, including an emergency brake at a minimum speed of 50 km/h (31.1 mph)
The off road element of the new motorcycle test
At the discretion of the examiner, candidates will be asked to demonstrate their ability to ride a right circuit, and steer to the right on the avoidance exercise or a left circuit and steer to the left on the avoidance exercise.
The practical moped riding test is being developed. The higher speed manoeuvres for moped riders will be slower than for motorcycles. A test for the drivers of motorcycle and side car combination is also under development.
Why are special "off road" facilities required?
It was considered that it would not be safe to conduct the new higher speed and braking manoeuvres on public roads, which in very built up and busy test areas, would not be safe for the rider, other road users and the general public.
Undertaking a fair and consistent assessment for all candidates across Great Britain would be best achieved by using a pre-determined layout using ground markings and cones. It would be impractical to do that on a public road with other traffic present.
Due to the minimum speeds required and different handling and power characteristics of different machines, it has been necessary to calculate a minimum test area in which to conduct the new test.
The new test will be delivered from a network of sites provided either directly by DSA or via private developers. Many of the centres will be Multipurpose Test Centres (MPTC) providing both motorcycle and car testing facilities.
The new Super Centres will be fewer and further between and candidates will have to travel up to 35 or 40 miles to get to a test centre. In Scotland, some test candidates will have to travel in excess of 100 miles for a motorcycle test.
