Motorcycle Insurance

Months of lobbying from motorcycle groups and riders over closed bike test centres have culminated in a direct request from the motorcycle industry for the government to intervene and prevent the collapse of the system.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has teamed up with a variety of other organisations to call upon transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick to address the "testing chaos" that has ensued since plans to implement the new bike test were announced.

Along with the Motor Cycle Industry Trainers' Association, the Local Authorities Road Safety Officers Association, the Motorcycle Action Group (Mag) and the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), the MCI has written to the minister, warning that there are not enough sites to meet the demand for tests.

There has been a six-month delay period in the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) finding new centres suitable for the examination to be carried out, meaning that there are still not enough sites and so trainers have had to turn away students ready to take their tests.

"Although the delay period is nearly at an end, there has been no significant improvement in the situation with regard to the promised 66 full time multi-purpose test centres (MPTC)," the letter reads.

Motorcycle Insurance - Get a quote now.

It goes on to state that only 44 centres will be operational when the test goes live at the end of April.

One of the latest centres to close was the Arbroath facility, with learner motorcyclists potentially having to travel to Kirkcaldy to sit their test before a new MPTC is built in Dundee, the Arbroath Herald reported.

Other centres in Worksop and Chesterfield are planned for closure at the end of this month, with those planning to take their tests having to make the 24-mile journey to Rotherham to sit their exams.

Chairman of Mag, Paul Turner, commented: "If the DSA genuinely values its customers, especially the most vulnerable among them, it should act responsibly by not forcing the new test through until all the test facilities have been built."

Meanwhile, the BMF's government relations executive Chris Hodder, said: "There are insufficient centres and major problems over the booking process, but more importantly, inexperienced learner motorcyclists are being forced to travel excessive distances to take a test and bizarrely, even if they fail, will be forced to ride a long distance home."

He concluded that the government needs to "bite the bullet" and postpone the introduction of the new test.

Previous Motorcycle News

Bikers 'should consider safety on track days'
Suzuki rider scoops third place
Bike registrations see improved performance

08/02/12 - Triumph takes award for Motorcycle Live exhibition. Triumph is celebrating after being named the best exhibitor at Britain's leading motorcycle show.

08/02/12 - Yamaha extends low-finance offers. Yamaha has extended the range of motorcycles covered by its Street Wise finance promotion.

01/02/12 - David Robb leaves BMW post. The man responsible for transforming the BMW Motorrad motorcycle brand has left the company after 18 years.

Past motorbike news