By Jamie White – Head of Communications
The Government has launched a consultation on plans to improve motorcycle training.
The proposals include upgrading compulsory basic training (CBT) to improve the riding of younger learners, which has been largely unchanged for the last 25 years.
The plans under consideration include the structure and content of CBT courses, the qualification process for instructors and standards checks for instructors, which assess their ability to teach pupils.
Transport Minister, Claire Perry, said: “Motorcyclists account for one in every five deaths on our roads, despite representing just one per cent of all traffic. This is a shocking statistic – even more so when you consider that 19 per cent of all reported motorcycle casualties involved riders aged 19 and under.
“We must do all we can to improve road safety and I hope our proposals to change the training will do that.”
All new learner motorcycle and moped riders must take CBT, which was first introduced in 1990 and has seen little change since its introduction. Riders then have to pass their full motorcycle test within two years or they have to take CBT again.
Last year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Department for Transport commissioned research into the views of trainers and learner riders on the current CBT, and how any changes would affect new riders.
The research helped shape a number of proposals. These have been developed with a range of motorcycle organisations and the training industry.
The consultation runs until April 21st, 2015.
