Measures announced in the Government's Road Safety Strategy to 
improve motorcycle safety will be introduced from 1 February 2001.

The principal changes are: 

* scrapping the rule that prevents a rider renewing a provisional 
motorcycle licence for a year if a test has not been passed within
2 years

* replace with a 2 year validity period for basic training 
completion certificates

* require newly qualified car drivers to complete a basic rider 
training course before riding a moped

* require all learner motorcyclists and car drivers to take a 
theory test.

The Driving Standards Agency has written to motorcycling and safety 
interests about the details. The Agency has also sought views on:

* improving pre-test training arrangements for motorcyclists - 
supported by a logbook

* improving safety for full motorcycle licence-holders

* improving standards of motorcycle instructors

* introducing an independent appeals system for training bodies 
and instructors

* adjusting the minimum distance for the eyesight check in element
A of the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) course where a number 
plate with the narrower font is used

* staging the motorcycle theory test after a CBT course has been 
completed

* rationalising the CBT requirements when a person takes a retest

* incorporating the standard conditions of appointment for 
Approved Training Bodies (ATBs) within the CBT regulations.

Lord Whitty, Road Safety Minister said: 

"The Road Safety Strategy set a challenging agenda for modernising 
driver and rider training, as part of reducing the numbers of people 
killed or seriously injured on the roads by 40% by 2010. This package
is early evidence of our determination to improve safety by improving
the quality of our regulation."

For more information contact Chris Lee or Sean Thornton at the 
Driving Standards Agency .

Notes to editors

1. The Consultation Paper - Safer Motorcycling - Improving Training -
is available from the Driving Standards Agency's HQ or on the 
Agency's Website at 

http://www.driving-tests.co.uk/infocentre/consult_index.htm

2. The Government's road safety strategy - Tomorrow's roads - 
Safer for everyone - was published on 1 March. Copies can be 
obtained from Department of the Environment, Transport and the 
Regions, Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, LS23 7 NB. 
and on the Internet at (THIS IS NOW THE FINAL RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION)

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/infocentre/safer_mc.htm

3. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of 
the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 
(DETR) and is part of the Driver, Vehicle and Operator (DVO) group
of organisations within DETR.

4. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through advancing 
driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and 
efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving 
Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and supervising 
basic training for learner motorcyclists.

5. The DSA is a trading fund with an annual turnover of around #80
million, fully funded by fee income and revenue from non-statutory
activities.

6. The DSA HQ is at Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, 
NG1 5GU, and there are five area offices, which manage 430 
practical test centres across Britain.

7. The DSA employs 2,008 staff, of which some 1,317 are driving 
examiners. In 1999/00 the Agency carried out 1.2 million tests for
car drivers, 57,550 vocational tests and over 102,000 motorcycle 
rider tests. 1.1 million theory tests were carried out at 158 
centres. At the end of the year there were 29,103 people on the 
Register of Approved Driving Instructors.

8. In December 1997, the DSA successfully regained the Charter 
Mark, awarded for excellence in public service, having previously 
been one of the first recipients of this award, for 1992-95.

9. The DSA achieved formal accreditation as an Investor in People 
in July 2000.

10. DSA news: 
http://www.driving-tests.co.uk

11. End of Notes.

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