The new motorcycle test was supposed to have been introduced into the UK last September which meant the provision of larger test centres, Multi Purpose Test Centres (MPTCs) as they are known, to allow for the additional aspects of the test such as hazard avoidance.

However, when it was plainly obvious that these test centres were not going to be ready, riders groups and the motorcycle industry petitioned Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick and the introduction was delayed six months to April 27th 2009.

You can read more details here

Well, guess what? They’re still not ready! Out of 66 test centres that should be ready only 44 are,which is only 5 more than were ready in September!

The DSA say that the maximum riders should have to travel to a test centre should be within a 45 minute riding range, however the result of this lack of provision is that in many parts of the country, particularly the North, Scotland and Wales, riders with a place to take a test that is within this range in fact many will have to travel for as much as a couple of hours which is clearly unacceptable not only because of the distance but also because they are inexperienced novices.

Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) President Ian Mutch said: ‘At a time when so much emphasis is rightly being put on the need for good training to prepare new riders for the road, it is ironic that we should be prematurely adopting a new regime that is going to make fresh problems rather than curing old ones.’

The whole testing infrastructure is likely to collapse should the new test be introduced as planned, with trainers reporting that they are already unable to book tests. This ill thought out new test (aside from the lack of centre provision) where traffic cones on a car park are supposed to prepare riders for the most common of motorcycle collisions – motorists pulling out of junctions into our path – yeh right, has also doubled in price to add insult to injury, not forgetting potential business closures, job losses and compromised road safety.

MAG as well as the The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI), together with its training arm the Motor Cycle Industry Trainers’ Association (MCITA), the Local Authorities Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA)and the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) have all contacted Mr Fitzpatrick again to voice their concerns and MAG is asking for all of the MPTCs to be open before the new test is introduced.

Latest news from MAG is that they are using their parliamentary connections to expose the lunacy of introducing the new testing regime before adequate test facilities are ready and there is now to be a thirty minute debate in the House of Commons on the introduction of the new test.

MAG rep for North Wales Rory Wilson has gained the support of his MP Mark Williams, MP for Ceredigion, who has tabled the 30 minute debate for April 22. The debate will be held at 4pm and will provide Mr Williams with a full 15 minutes to lay out the case for suspending introduction of the new testing arrangements until adequate facilities are in place. The Roads minister will then have 15 minutes to respond to the points made

In addition MAG has organised a demo on Saturday 9th May through the city of Leeds to highlight the lack of test centre provison in the North of England.

The MAG National Demo Run ” TOO FAR TO GO” will depart from Squire’s Cafe , Sherburn in Elmet at 11.00 am.