Motorcycling is under threat as never before, as the punitive licencing laws proposed under the ‘Third Directive on Driving Licences’ were agreed in the European parliament.
Citing “Statistics showing an increase in the number of motorcyclists involved in accidents”, the proposal called for “A more sophisticated progressive access model that will take into account age, experience, training and testing. The new Directive tries to strike a balance between different factors”.
These factors are:
• When progressing from one to category to another, meaning from a less powerful motorcycle to a more powerful one, only once a theory test is imposed; furthermore, only one practical test is mandatory; however, Member States are free to check the experience gathered either through a test or through training: this should alleviate the burden for those changing category;
• The vehicle definition of the medium-powered category A2 has been widened and thus a wider range of bikes are available for these riders; the category thus becomes a real main category in opposition of category A limited today;
• Direct access to the most powerful bikes has been fixed at the age of 24
• Member States are free to allow direct access, but can also make progressive access obligatory
What this means in reality is:
• Minimum age for riding bikes larger than 125cc rises from 17 to 19
• Direct Access to larger bikes not allowed until 24 (currently 21)
• The new categories of motorcycle riding licences creates several two-year ‘steps’ between bikes of different engine size
• More expense as riders required to complete extra tests between ‘steps’.
The Government objected to the legislation after the motorcycle industry said that it would have a devastating impact, but all other member states voted in favour. The Department for Transport believes experience, not age, is most important for safety. After being out-voted in Brussels, Stephen Ladyman, the Transport Minister, said that the new motorcycle rules were “unnecessary, overly rigid and won’t add anything to road safety, which is why we objected.”
“These changes won’t give us any benefits over existing arrangements,” he said. “People will find their access to motorbikes will be much more restricted and the motorbike industry will suffer. It’s negative, but we have no choice but to make the best of it.”
Trevor Magner, of the British Motorcyclists’ Federation, said the new rules would “have an extreme and devastating effect on the take-up of motorbiking. The more bureaucracy and restrictions there are, the fewer people will take it up.
“It will do nothing for motorcycling safety — there will be fewer motorcycling deaths simply because no one will be riding them.”
The only plus is that licences from member states will be recognised across the EU – a small comfort when no-one will be left riding bikes.
The changes - subject to final approval - are due to be phased in from 2012.
If these changes come in, then biking is DEAD. Why spend a fortune, take four tests all to be allowed to ride a big bike by the age of 24, when you take one car test at 16... and that is it.
To all KBers in UK/Europe - I call on you to contact your local MPs and MEPS. Any of you in NZ or elsewhere with friends in UK/Europe, please do the same.
Just think about this. If biking in Europe crashes and dies, then it'll force prices up elsewhere as the manufacturers have to try to save their income. And how often does NZ etc look at "safety" legislation from UK etc... and bring it in themselves.
This is the future of biking we are defending here, make no mistake.
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Originally Posted by Bob
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