An enhanced approach to learning - Have your say on the proposed modular motorcycling test

London, 26 November/GNN/ -- 

DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY News Release (DSA 52/08) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 26 November 2008
Proposals to improve the way motorcyclists are tested were published today
by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

The DSA consultation asks for views on proposals to split the current
single-event motorcycling test into two parts.

Module 1 would contain the specified manoeuvres element of the test including
exercises designed to assess the rider's ability to control their machine
safely, including avoidance and emergency stop exercises carried out at a
minimum speed of 50 kph.

Module 2 would include an eyesight test and up to 35 minutes of in-traffic
riding assessing the rider's ability to safely interact with other road users.

DSA's Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:

"Statistics show that motorcyclists are the most vulnerable road users -
they make up just 1% of road traffic, but account for 20% of road deaths.

"A two-part modular test would introduce a step-by-step considered approach
to riding a motorcycle and offer the candidate time to absorb each separate
important stage to learning.

The new test may also offer a long term solution in terms of service provision
for both the agency and the industry. I hope motorcyclists will consider
these proposals and give us their views."

A six-week consultation period ending on January 9 will allow for motorcyclists
and the motorcycle industry to present their views to the agency on these
proposed changes.

If the changes are accepted DSA hopes to offer greater coverage of sites
from which the specified manoeuvres element of the test may be taken. This
could mean shorter journey times for candidates and trainers alike.

The motorcycle test fee will remain unchanged in March 2009. The price
would be split across both modules - so candidates only have to pay for
each section of the test as they take it. The proposed fee split is: £10
for Module 1 and £70 for Module 2.

As announced in the DSA Business plan 2008/2009 the cost of the motorcycling
test would undergo its annual increment and rise to £90.50 in October
2009. The cost of Module 1 would be £15.50 and Module 2, £75.

Have your say online and view the consultation paper which is available at
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=594, or write to The Driving Standards
Agency, The Axis Building, 112 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 6LP.

Or for more information please call 0115 936 6092.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposals must do so by 9 January 2009.

Notes to Editors:

For further information contact Sarah Newall at the Driving Standards Agency
(DSA) Press Office on 0115 9366134.

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency * of the
Department for Transport.

2. The DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life" with an overall mission to
contribute towards a Government target of achieving a 40% reduction in riders
and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group
up to 24 years, by 2010.

3.  Current information on road casualties is available from the Department
for Transport website: www.dft.gov.uk

4. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through setting standards
for drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly and
efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors;
Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers; Driving Instructor Trainers
and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers; supervising Compulsory Basic Training
(CBT) for learner motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of
learning resources.

5. DSA is a trading fund * with an expected turnover of around £199 million for
the year 2008/9, fully funded by fee income and revenue from its activities.

6. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving examiners
based at over 400 test centres across mainland Great Britain. In 2007/2008
the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical tests for car drivers, over 95,000
vocational tests and 94,000 motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.7 million
theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there
were around 43,600 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

7. DSA was one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an online
booking service.  Candidates can book and manage their theory and practical
test appointments on line at www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest

* Executive agency:
An executive agency is semi-detached from its parent department and manages
its own budget with freedom from ad hoc, day to day intervention and much of
central, government-wide regulation. They are run under the organisation and
direction of a Chief Executive recruited through open competition. An executive
agency has accountability for the performance of specific operational tasks
as a corporate unit, including focused performance targets set by the parent
department and personal accountability of the chief executive for performance.

* Trading Fund:
A trading fund is a means of financing trading activities
undertaken by Government that would previously have been financed
by annual appropriation from Parliament. A trading fund permits the
establishment of a self-accounting unit that remains under the control and
management of Ministers and accountable to Parliament through Ministers,
but has greater freedom to manage its financial affairs. Effectively that
means the trading fund body can use its income to settle its liabilities
and retain year-end cash balances.

Establishing the trading fund does not alter the Agency's constitutional
position and it remains part of the Department for Transport.

Source: Driving Standards Agency