I am an instructor teaching people to ride motorcycles, on all levels.
I have today taken part in the TRL/DSA (transport research laboratory / diving standards agency) assessment for the new off-road section of the re-vamped 2008 motorcycle test, being introduced next year; this was an assessment of the viability of the off-road element of the test.
I took three candidates. All three are currently doing training for the current DAS (Direct Access Scheme) test on a 500cc machine, which will give them a full, unrestricted bike license.
1st - A deaf student, has had 3 x 4hour-long DAS training lessons; I gave him 1/2 an hour off road instruction at our site on the new test before taking him over; A quick demo at the DSA site and one practice run; His only fault was a rear wheel lock-up on the emergency stop.
2nd - has had 12 hours DAS training; no training for the ‘new’ test, just a quick run through at the DSA site; watched me, then had one practice; only fault was he clipped a cone on the hazard avoidance test.
3rd - has had 8 hours DAS and the same on-site as the 2nd candidate; no faults.
Ok, with reservations regarding inclement weather for the 50kph (31.5mph) hazard avoidance swerve, I am going to stick my neck out and say the new off-road section is NOT hard at all. We can easily train students for this.
Will it make for better riders than we produce now? NO.
Will it make motorcyclists safer on the road? NO. Emphatically NO.
Is it a total waste of time? YES.
My suggestions for making the roads safer? Re-test for ALL road users after 5 years on the road; Include motorway driving in the test; ALL drivers with foreign licenses MUST take British test before driving over here. Ban ALL drivers for one year for using mobile phones whilst driving.
Really wanna make things safer for bikers? Ok, remove the ABS, airbags, seat betls, side-impact protection, and crumple zones from cars; fit a 12" spike into the centre of the steering wheel. Heavy penalties for those who cause accidents, including permanant consfication of license until a stiffer re-test is sat. Then, and only then, will they slow down and take notice of what is going on around them.
Someone asked me:- <<Would people like you, within the training industry ever say “Wait a minute, you’re missing the point - training the victims isn’t the answer.” ?>>
YES! Absolutely!
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WHY is there no off-road training for car drivers before they take to the road, like CBT for bikers?
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Why is there no Hazard Perception test ON ROAD for car drivers to see how good they are, when actually driving a car, to see what they fail to see? Doing it on the computer screen, while NOT in control of a car, is less valuable than A VIDEO GAME. Why not introduce ‘The Commentary’ as part of the test, as used by the police force driver training?..
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WHY is the only legal requirement for clothing, when riding a bike, Helmet and pants (and Bra for ladies)? Stunningly true! That is all you have to wear, by law; madness! Make CE approved armoured gear compulsory; this will NOT be popular, sorry folks, but as a rider of 34 years experience, and having had accidents myself, I can see the sense of it; there is plenty of winter and summer gear available that fits the bill. It would make a significant improvement to the survivability of many accidents.
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Bring motorway driving, and lane discipline, into the test, along with fog light usage too.
If you’d like to know more about the test, look here. You will find links to maps of the cone lay-out.
http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=405
Rant over… I welcome your comments and ideas; I will be putting recommendations forward to the TRL, so type away, but keep it real, please, folks;
Be careful out there! Safe riding.
