New plans to boost motorcyclist safety
Consultation launched on plans to improve basic training for motorcycle riders, including standard of instructors.
The government has today (10 March 2015) 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 1 in every 5 deaths on our roads, despite representing just 1% of all traffic. This is a shocking statistic – even more so when you consider that 19% 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 2 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 launched today runs until 21 April 2015.
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Related documents
- Motorcycle compulsory basic training consultation, written ministerial statement published 10 March 2015