Bob
5th October 2005, 00:17
In a surprise move, several Euro MPs are set to support motorcyclists in their attempts to force a re-think on draconian new licensing laws for learner riders that UBG has been tracking for some months now.
The MEPs’ support followed a demonstration protest ride to Brussels by hundreds of riders from countries across Europe, including around three hundred UK motorcyclists.
MAG President, Ian Mutch, said "In gauging public concern, politicians interpret every letter as reflecting the views of at least a hundred voters. For every voter who gets on a motorcycle and rides several 100 miles at great expense to make a point, the factor applied is nearer 1000. Every one who made the run to Brussels should give themselves a king size pat on the back for voting in the most empathic way for the defence of motorcycling."
Trevor Magner, the BMF’s Senior Government Relations Executive added “This is fantastic news. Motorcycling is often under threat but this latest directive is an ill-founded and discriminatory piece of legislation. Luckily, the MEPs who have contacted us are prepared to stand up to this sort of thing and now we might just get it halted.”
As reported previously (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8314&highlight=licence) , the Third EU Driving Licence Directive will mean that the minimum age for riding motorcycles over 125cc rises from 17 to 19 and the age level for direct access to a larger machine rises from 21 to 24 - all this without any evidence of a safety benefit, say the BMF. Equally, further hurdles in the shape of new categories of motorcycle licences involving two-yearly steps between bikes of different engine sizes and extra riding tests between steps would be introduced, once again, with no identified safety benefits.
Speaking at the Brussels’ demonstration, Dr Leon Mannings, the BMF Chairman, said “This directive has no safety benefit. It should join the ‘Bonfire of Directives’ we have all heard so much about. All it will do is produce an overly complex motorcycle licensing process that will be neither understandable nor enforceable and will make motorcycling less accessible to European users. These motorcycling proposals seem more designed to deter people from taking up motorcycling than improving road safety. It’s not what legislation should be about”
The MEPs’ support followed a demonstration protest ride to Brussels by hundreds of riders from countries across Europe, including around three hundred UK motorcyclists.
MAG President, Ian Mutch, said "In gauging public concern, politicians interpret every letter as reflecting the views of at least a hundred voters. For every voter who gets on a motorcycle and rides several 100 miles at great expense to make a point, the factor applied is nearer 1000. Every one who made the run to Brussels should give themselves a king size pat on the back for voting in the most empathic way for the defence of motorcycling."
Trevor Magner, the BMF’s Senior Government Relations Executive added “This is fantastic news. Motorcycling is often under threat but this latest directive is an ill-founded and discriminatory piece of legislation. Luckily, the MEPs who have contacted us are prepared to stand up to this sort of thing and now we might just get it halted.”
As reported previously (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=8314&highlight=licence) , the Third EU Driving Licence Directive will mean that the minimum age for riding motorcycles over 125cc rises from 17 to 19 and the age level for direct access to a larger machine rises from 21 to 24 - all this without any evidence of a safety benefit, say the BMF. Equally, further hurdles in the shape of new categories of motorcycle licences involving two-yearly steps between bikes of different engine sizes and extra riding tests between steps would be introduced, once again, with no identified safety benefits.
Speaking at the Brussels’ demonstration, Dr Leon Mannings, the BMF Chairman, said “This directive has no safety benefit. It should join the ‘Bonfire of Directives’ we have all heard so much about. All it will do is produce an overly complex motorcycle licensing process that will be neither understandable nor enforceable and will make motorcycling less accessible to European users. These motorcycling proposals seem more designed to deter people from taking up motorcycling than improving road safety. It’s not what legislation should be about”