Current proposals for motorcycle licence changes.
This is a short summary from a number of proposals from MAG, BMF, MCIA, NMC etc.
A link to the Government paper is below, while consulations continue.
Simplified Licensing:
Lowering age thresholds for A1 (125cc) and A2 (35kW icenses, potentially from 17 to 16 for A1, and from 19 to 18 for A2,
Training Focus:
Moving away from repeated CBT renewals towards a more progressive “CBT Plus” system, ensuring skill development
Assessment Over Testing:
Replacing some tests (like Mod 1 & 2) with practical assessments, potentially after two years on a license, for upgrades.
Direct Access (DAS):
Reducing the Direct Access age from 24 to 21 for a full A license.
E-Scooter Integration:
Introducing a new license category for e-scooters and small electric vehicles for 14-year-olds.
Why These Reforms?
High Fatality Rate: Motorcyclists are disproportionately represented in road deaths (21% of fatalities for 1% of traffic)
Complex System: The current system is seen as complicated, hindering access.
COMMENTS
Overall, very welcome and sensible, making PTWs more accessible, along with parallel changing in training.
Emergency braking from 60 mph needs to be included in training and testing for A1 and above.
All commercial motorcycle training needs to be regulated, as with all other vehicles. Excepting only the most hazardous form of transport from regulation and oversight makes no sense.
Very worrying to see step on E-Scooters included, not banned, despite >50 mostly avoidable deaths and probably >1,000 avoidable serious injuries, and damming reports from TRL and WMG commissioned by the last government. Common sense needs to prevail here.
E-Scooters are flawed by design, take twice as long to brake than the Highway Code standard, cannot mount a 100mm kerb, cannot carry shopping safely – a back pack makes braking more difficult and hazardous. They also use more energy than an E-Cycle which you have to pedal, which can achieve standard braking distances, carry shopping safely and mount a standard kerb, and have a greater range.
Fatal collisions start at only 9 mph, although a simple fall can be enough.
E-Cycles would be 300% safer according to the research. Adding trigger throttles avoids having to pedal, and would allow riders to ride cover their brakes at all times, like cyclists, reducing reaction times by circa 1 second, potentially avoiding many collision or achieving a 10 mph reduction in impact speed (No need to close a twist grip throttle before braking).
British Superbike School 