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DSA announces two-part motorcycle test

DRIVING STANDARDS AGENCY News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 29 January 2009

* DSA splits the new motorcycle test into two parts

* Increased number of test delivery points

* The new test can be booked from March 30

* A safer approach to motorcycle riding

A new two-part motorcycle test will be introduced in April, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) announced today.

The existing single-event test will be replaced by a new test that will be taken in two parts. Bookings will be taken from the 30 March at the latest, with the first tests taking place on 27 April.

Module 1 will contain the specified manoeuvres element of the test including exercises designed to assess the rider's ability to control their machine safely, including avoidance and emergency stop exercises.

Module 2 will include an eyesight test and at least 30 minutes of on road riding, assessing the rider's ability to safely interact with other road users.

DSA's Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said: "I would like to thank all those who took time to respond to our recent consultation on the future of the motorcycle test.

"We have listened to the motorcycling industry and introducing a two part test means we can provide more locations from which to conduct tests and offer a step-by-step, considered approach to learning to ride. Candidates will have time to absorb each separate important stage.

"DSA hopes to offer greater coverage of sites from which the Module 1 specified manoeuvres element of the test may be taken. We will also be able to use some of our existing test centres to conduct the on-road Module 2 tests. This should mean shorter journey times for candidates and trainers alike. "

The overall motorcycle test fee will remain unchanged in March. The existing fee will be split across both modules - so candidates only have to pay for each section of the test as they take it. The fee split will be £10.00 for Module 1 and £70.00 for Module 2.

As announced in the 2008/9 DSA Business plan, the cost of the motorcycling test will undergo its annual increment and rise to £90.50 in October 2009. The cost of Module 1 will then be £15.50 and Module 2, £75.00.

For further information call Senior Press Officer Sarah Newall on 0115 9366134.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency * of the Department for Transport.

2. The DSA's vision is "Safe Driving for Life" with an overall mission to contribute towards a Government target of achieving a 40% reduction in riders and drivers killed or seriously injured in road accidents, in the age group up to 24 years, by 2010.

3. Current information on road casualties is available from the Department for Transport website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

4. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through setting standards for drivers, riders and trainers, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors; Large Goods Vehicle Instructors; Fleet Trainers; Driving Instructor Trainers and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers; supervising Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) for learner motorcyclists; and driver education and the provision of learning resources.

5. DSA is a trading fund * with an expected turnover of around £199 million for the year 2008/9, fully funded by fee income and revenue from its activities.

6. DSA employs over 2,700 staff, of which some 2,000 are driving examiners based at over 400 test centres across mainland Great Britain. In 2007/2008 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical tests for car drivers, over 95,000 vocational tests and 94,000 motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.7 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were around 43,600 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

7. DSA was one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an online booking service. Candidates can book and manage their theory and practical test appointments on line at http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest

* Executive agency:

An executive agency is semi-detached from its parent department and manages its own budget with freedom from ad hoc, day to day intervention and much of central, government-wide regulation. They are run under the organisation and direction of a Chief Executive recruited through open competition. An executive agency has accountability for the performance of specific operational tasks as a corporate unit, including focused performance targets set by the parent department and personal accountability of the chief executive for performance.

* Trading Fund:

A trading fund is a means of financing trading activities undertaken by Government that would previously have been financed by annual appropriation from Parliament. A trading fund permits the establishment of a self-accounting unit that remains under the control and management of Ministers and accountable to Parliament through Ministers, but has greater freedom to manage its financial affairs. Effectively that means the trading fund body can use its income to settle its liabilities and retain year-end cash balances.

Establishing the trading fund does not alter the Agency's constitutional position and it remains part of the Department for Transport.