The campaign for the provision of testing centres moves forward a gear.
In a two pronged attack, the Parliamentarians seem to be working with MAG. The day after Mark Williams MP asked probing questions in Parliament about the conduct of the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) and their failure to provide adequate m/c testing provision in Wales, Ann Main MP for St Albans has launched an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House.
An early day motion, if it receives enough signatures from MPs, can lead to the introduction of a private member’s bill, but it certainly raises awareness of the strength of feeling in the Commons about an issue.
These things only really gain legs when more MP’s sign, so please take the time to read the text of the EDM, contact your MP and urge them to sign EDM 1002. It just might help save motorcycling as we know it.
*EDM 1002 *
*MOTORCYCLE TESTING 03.03.2010*
“That this House notes that, following the introduction of a new motorcycle test on 27 April 2009, Driving Standards Agency figures show that 50,000 fewer people took the motorcycle test in the period to 31 January 2010 than in the same period in 2008; further notes that 45 learners crashed attempting the new test during its first nine weeks,resulting in 12 hospitalisations; further notes that the majority of
crashes occurred during the new swerve and stop exercise, which has been combined into one exercise in Module One of the new test; further notes that this is not obligatory under the European directive which prompted the introduction of the new test; further notes that the new test has resulted in a reduction in test centres, requiring longer journeys for inexperienced riders to access test facilities; is concerned that inaction to tackle this lack of test centres and combined swerve and stop exercise could lead to a decline in the overall number of motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry as a whole; congratulates Motorcycle News and the Motorcycle Action Group on their campaign to have these issues addressed; and calls on the Government to consider separating the two elements of the swerve and stop exercise and to investigate how the availability of test centres could be addressed.”