TASTER SESSION
For those of you out there who are a little nervous, want to see how much fun biking really is or are not sure if you want to spend out all your money on a bike yet, we now have "taster session".This will only cost you £20 which is refundable against any DAS or Restricted course and you can book yourself an hour of our time. We will get you riding in the safety of our off road training area.
We're so certain you'll like it and decide to book with us, that we will provisionally keep either a Direct Access or a Restricted Access training course open for you to complete !
Module one of the motorcycle test is changing as of the
16th of May 2011 the alterations proposed are listed below
Change to the sequence of the manoeuvres
(see revised order below)
So that all the slow speed elements will be carried out before the higher speed exercises. This will allow candidates to demonstrate the necessary competence in motorcycle control before moving onto the more demanding manoeuvres.
Controlled stop
This provides an opportunity for candidates to ride the circuit bend of the motorcycle manoeuvring area before coming to a controlled stop. There will not be a minimum speed requirement to this manoeuvre which will allow the candidates the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the layout before moving on to the emergency stop.
Emergency stop manoeuvre
This is to take place before the avoidance exercise. If candidates fail the emergency stop they will not be permitted to carry out the avoidance exercise. This should significantly reduce the likelihood of incident for poorly prepared candidates.
Choosing preferred riding line
Re-position cones on the exit of both left and right hand bends to allow the rider to choose their preferred riding line.
The slow ride
This will now be conducted whilst the candidate rides between the figure of eight and the U-turn manoeuvres. The examiner will observe rather than walk beside the candidate. This will make for a smoother transition from one manoeuvre to another whilst compensating for the extra time required for the candidate to benefit from the additional ride around the circuit bend.
Altering requirements for the controlled stop following
the avoidance exercise
The requirements for the controlled stop following the avoidance exercise will be altered. The first pair of blue cones that currently form the stopping box will be removed for this exercise. The examiner will ask the candidate to stop near the remaining two blue cones. This will allow the candidate a greater length to stop in and also allows flexibility in where they stop. Candidates will still be required to stop under control.
Flexibility of speed assessment
For the high speed manoeuvres, DSA intends to introduce a degree of flexibility into the assessment of the speed requirement. There will be a five per cent tolerance of the speed required. (2 km/h below 50 km/h). Providing the candidate commits no faults other than not reaching the speed within this tolerance, the examiner should record this as a riding fault rather than a serious fault. (A riding fault will contribute to the result of the test. A serious fault would result in failure)
Rider faults
The maximum number of rider faults a successful candidate is allowed will remain at five; the number of attempts allowed for the higher speed exercises will also remain unchanged.
Summary
To summarise, these changes are designed to address those aspects the motorcycle industry felt needed to be changed.
The key message is that the exercises will remain the same; it is mainly the order in which they are delivered that will change. This will give candidates more time to settle down and familiarise themselves with the updated layout. This will also give them the opportunity to build up their speed gradually, reducing the risk of candidates riding too fast.
Revised sequence of set exercises for module one
of motorcycle test
- manual handling
- slow control steering (slalom and figure of eight)
- slow ride: this will be observed as the candidate rides to the next exercise
- U-turn
- circuit bend and controlled stop carried out between 30 km/h and 50 km/h (about 20 mph to 30 mph) followed by a controlled stop in the area marked by the four blue cones; speed not measured
- cornering and emergency stop; speed measured
- cornering, avoidance exercise and controlled stop; speed measured
Click on this link to view new diagrams for mod one test as of 16th May 2011
The new motorcycle test
The new motorcycle test aims to improve the standard of road safety for motorcycle and moped riders.
The new test event will contain two elements. The higher speed exercises and other exercises will be tested on safe off-road sites and take about 10 minutes to complete. The accompanied on road element of the test will follow, consisting of a road ride covering a variety of road and traffic conditions and will also include normal stops, hill and angle starts. Candidates who have demonstrated riding skills of a dangerously incompetent level during the off-road part of the test will not be permitted to proceed to the on-road element.
The practical moped riding test
The practical moped riding test (which does not include the high-speed requirements) will also be carried out from the new test centres, where both the obstacle avoidance and emergency braking exercises will be carried out at 30 km/h (approx. 19 mph). A test for the drivers of motorcycle and side car combination is also under development.
Motorists warned to get insured ahead of crackdown
Motorists are being warned to insure their vehicles ahead of a new crackdown to tackle the menace of uninsured driving.
Under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement law – which will affect all motorists from 20 June – it is an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle, rather than just to drive when uninsured.
A national advertising campaign will be launched by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau today to raise awareness of the law.
DSA to stop publishing questions used in theory tests
- Candidates need to understand theory
- End to memorising answers
- Unpublished questions used from 1 January 2012
The Driving Standards Agency is to stop publishing the multiple choice questions and answers used in theory tests, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.
This will help to ensure that new drivers learn the principles behind driving theory rather than just learning answers. The move follows the introduction of independent driving into the driving test and the DSA's decision to stop publishing test routes in October 2010, to make sure the test assesses a learner's ability to drive and not their capacity to memorise routes.
In September 2011 DSA will change the format of books and other learning materials available to help people prepare for theory tests. This will take place at the same time as more challenging case studies are introduced to car and motorcycle theory tests.
Then, from 1 January 2012, DSA will create theory tests using questions which will not be published. Practice questions and answers, not used in theory tests, will still be available to help candidates with revision.
Other companies which publish products containing DSA theory test questions will also no longer have access to the questions used in the tests.
Independent driving explained
From 4 October 2010, learner drivers will be tested on independent driving as part of the practical driving test.
During their test, candidates will have to drive for about 10 minutes, either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both.
To help candidates understand where they’re going, the examiner may show them a diagram.
It doesn't matter if candidates don't remember every direction, or if they go the wrong way - that can happen to the most experienced drivers. Watch a news report about independant driving
REAL DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR LEARNERS
- Details of test routes to be withdrawn
- Skills boost for new drivers
- Countdown to independent driving
The 3rd European Driving Licence Directive The likely scenario for the UK will be :
- Age 16 CBT Provisional Moped, Theory and hazard perception test, Off road manouvres test, on road test. Full P licence.
- Age 17 CBT Provisional A1 motorcycle, Theory & hazard test. Off road test, on road test using 125cc bike. Full A1 licence. Restricted to 125cc 14 BHP for 2 years.
- Age 19 CBT Provisional A2 motorcycle, Theory & hazard test. Off road test, on road test using 33 BHP bike greater than 500cc. Full A2 licence. Restricted to 47 BHP for 2 years.
- Age 25 CBT Provisional A motorcycle, Theory & hazard test. Off road test, on road test using 47 BHP bike greater than 600cc. Full A licence.
- Unrestricted Direct Access will remain but at age 25 years.
It sounds complicated.... It is complicated.... Put more simply, suppose you are 17 years old and you want a bike licence.
- There's 3 steps, at 17, 19, 25 years old.
- Each step involves theory, off-road, and on-road tests.
- Each step must be taken on a bigger bike than you are currently allowed to ride, and practiced for under Instructor supervision.
A wicked but subtle change (buried in the small print) is the proposed minimum test vehicles. 500cc bikes don't exist (they're 496 or 498). We suspect simple ignorance is the reason why every "learner bike" in existence will be useless from 2013 at huge expense to the public / training industry.A rather discriminatory effect is that the existing A2 route for learners is abolished. There will be no way for a smaller or disadvantaged person to get a full licence anymore. (2 years experience on a 33bhp to then upgrade automatically). The disadvantaged will have to cope with 650cc (?) on test, like it or lump it. For even a new A2 it will be a 550cc (?) bike which will be rather big and heavy for small people in the new off road test.It'll all get very expensive and difficult. It's forecast that the ultimate reduction in the number of new riders going through the new system will be as much as 60%. Yes, less than half as many as at present. Add the cost to Training Centres of dealing with the 2nd directive in 2008, only to have to re-equip for 2011 and less than half as many customers it's doubtfull that there will be many bike shops or training schools surviving anyway.
DVLA finally ends licence debacle
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will now be returning original driving licences (with an invalidating hole punched through the photo) to motorcyclists who request a replacement licence. But not automatically. You have to request that your old licence is returned.The new procedure has been introduced because a number of motorcyclists had been issued with replacement licences (after moving house or applying for a photo licence) that had ‘lost’ their motorcycle entitlement resulting in them having to retake their bike test simply because they were unable to prove they’d previously held entitlements.In one case highlighted on the BBC’s Watchdog programme, a long-serving police motorcycle mechanic found that he’d had his entitlement for a category A motorcycle licence removed. Despite having held a licence for 28 years and written support from his police superiors, he still had to take a new driving test. The decision to return the defaced original licence follows months of lobbying by the BMF and others over the issuing of replacement driving licences to motorcyclists applying for a replacement licence due to change of address, loss, renewal etc, who have then found that their replacement licence has not included the all-important ‘Category A’ motorcycle entitlement.Previously photocopies or other written evidence of entitlements were unacceptable to the DVLA, but the BMF’s solution, similar to passport renewal, provides proof of entitlement.
Dangerous drivers to face longer jail terms
Dangerous drivers who seriously injure others could spend longer in jail thanks to a new criminal offence, Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced today.
The new offence of 'causing serious injury by dangerous driving' will carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and allow the courts to impose tougher punishments on dangerous drivers who devastate the lives of others.
The changes will be taken forward as part of the Government's Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
For the vast majority of other dangerous driving cases, the maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment provides the courts with sufficient and proportionate powers to punish offenders.
Vehicle Registration Certificate becomes more secure
A new, more secure V5C Vehicle Registration Certificate will be introduced from 15 August 2010.
The new registration certificate is being introduced following the theft of a number of blank certificates in 2006. The aim is to reduce the risks to motorists of buying a stolen or cloned vehicle.
The new documents will be issued from 15 August 2010 for all newly registered vehicles and when there are changes to an existing registration, such as a change of keeper or address.
From the middle of next year, the new certificate will be issued to all remaining vehicles when they are re-licensed or declared to be off the road.
The existing blue V5C will remain valid for these vehicles until it is replaced and DVLA will not be asking for the old V5C to be returned.
Find out what's new about the new registration certificate and get useful tips for when buying a used vehicle.
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