Wolfie
Is a lunp
New EU driving licence proposals for obtaining a full motorcycle licence are ‘difficult to justify, will do little to improve road safety and should be rejected’ say the 140,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation.
In a 4,000 word response to the Department for Transport on the implications of introducing the Third EC Driving Licence Directive, currently under consideration by EU institutions, the BMF, Britain’s largest rider’s rights organisation, say the proposals in the draft Directive will make obtaining a licence more complex and probably more expensive, while the measures fail to make clear precisely how the changes are expected to lead to improvements in road safety.
The far-reaching proposals involve a complete re-structuring of all driver licensing with particular emphasis on the motorcycle licence. A new AM (moped) category is to be introduced along with three new motorcycle categories A1 (light motorcycle); A2 (intermediate motorcycle) and A (unlimited motorcycle). A proposal to also limit the validity of the first driving licence to three years for riders or drivers is also proposed.
Along with the new structure, each licence class will have specific rider ages for both progressive and Direct Access, including new test vehicle specifications. While the BMF supports the reduction in age from 18 to 16 for a Category A1 light motorcycle licence and the increase in age for access to Category A unlimited motorcycles from 18 to 21, increasing the age for Direct Access to 24 is pointless say the BMF when problems involving Direct Access involve riders considerably older than 24 and these issues are not addressed. The three year licence limit is also strongly opposed.
The BMF has made its own proposals in relation to Direct Access to Category A machines by recommending a mandatory training scheme over a period of several weeks to equip riders with the skills that they need. It has also said that as part of a schools education programme, new riders and drivers should pass a Theory Test as a prerequisite to applying for a driving licence and that a change to the power assisted cycle definition to 1kW (motorised as well as electrical) be made to allow access at 14.
On the need for better driver identification, the BMF says that it is cautious over security chips on driving licences as there should be compatibility and not duplication with identity cards.
On the positive side, the BMF welcomes the Introduction of standards for examiners and medical checks for drivers, (including those for eyesight).
Trevor Magner BMF Government Relations Executive said:
“When the Second EC Driving Licence Directive was agreed by the EC Institutions, it was intended to harmonise licensing practice but has signally failed to do so.
The proposals in the Third EC Driving Licence Directive have continued on this path in which more bureaucracy is to be introduced for questionable benefits. The proposals in the draft Directive are difficult to justify except as ‘busy work’ on the part of the European Commission.”
The BMF recommends that the Government should reject the draft Directive and return it to the Commission for redrafting to produce a simple and understandable system that will truly improve road safety.
The BMF’s full submission is available on line via http://www.bmf.co.uk/briefing/.html
In a 4,000 word response to the Department for Transport on the implications of introducing the Third EC Driving Licence Directive, currently under consideration by EU institutions, the BMF, Britain’s largest rider’s rights organisation, say the proposals in the draft Directive will make obtaining a licence more complex and probably more expensive, while the measures fail to make clear precisely how the changes are expected to lead to improvements in road safety.
The far-reaching proposals involve a complete re-structuring of all driver licensing with particular emphasis on the motorcycle licence. A new AM (moped) category is to be introduced along with three new motorcycle categories A1 (light motorcycle); A2 (intermediate motorcycle) and A (unlimited motorcycle). A proposal to also limit the validity of the first driving licence to three years for riders or drivers is also proposed.
Along with the new structure, each licence class will have specific rider ages for both progressive and Direct Access, including new test vehicle specifications. While the BMF supports the reduction in age from 18 to 16 for a Category A1 light motorcycle licence and the increase in age for access to Category A unlimited motorcycles from 18 to 21, increasing the age for Direct Access to 24 is pointless say the BMF when problems involving Direct Access involve riders considerably older than 24 and these issues are not addressed. The three year licence limit is also strongly opposed.
The BMF has made its own proposals in relation to Direct Access to Category A machines by recommending a mandatory training scheme over a period of several weeks to equip riders with the skills that they need. It has also said that as part of a schools education programme, new riders and drivers should pass a Theory Test as a prerequisite to applying for a driving licence and that a change to the power assisted cycle definition to 1kW (motorised as well as electrical) be made to allow access at 14.
On the need for better driver identification, the BMF says that it is cautious over security chips on driving licences as there should be compatibility and not duplication with identity cards.
On the positive side, the BMF welcomes the Introduction of standards for examiners and medical checks for drivers, (including those for eyesight).
Trevor Magner BMF Government Relations Executive said:
“When the Second EC Driving Licence Directive was agreed by the EC Institutions, it was intended to harmonise licensing practice but has signally failed to do so.
The proposals in the Third EC Driving Licence Directive have continued on this path in which more bureaucracy is to be introduced for questionable benefits. The proposals in the draft Directive are difficult to justify except as ‘busy work’ on the part of the European Commission.”
The BMF recommends that the Government should reject the draft Directive and return it to the Commission for redrafting to produce a simple and understandable system that will truly improve road safety.
The BMF’s full submission is available on line via http://www.bmf.co.uk/briefing/.html
