Motorcycle Forums

DSA

Having being a motorcycle instructor for nearly twenty years, I can say the DSA had this coming. As the commons select commitee proved earlier this year. They have listened to no one. They have always took matters into their own hands with no regard for anyone else.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmtran/442/44203.htm

Last month all instructors recieved a letter from the DSA, asking for their opinions on a rider registration training scheme and if an update in the CBT syllabus is needed.  This is a first for the DSA. Too little too late in my opinion and will they listen? Highly unlikely. This is deep routed, I know of very few training bodies that have a good word to say about the DSA. Change is coming but it's going to be slow.

There's fundamentally nothing wrong with module 1 as many people have said. It's the way that it's been implemented that is a farce. The pupils that have "incidents" on test are the ones that haven't had the training. As a training body we hire the MPTC at weekends to train people whicjh is absoluetly necessary for people to pass. The hazard avoidance can be made really easy with a bit of "know how". Most of Mod 1 is really the same as CBT. Where the DSA  made a mess of it is by making the swerve and braking as one exercise the EU Directive doesn't call for this and by not providing enough MPTC's. My training body is in Stoke-on-Trent and we have to have a round trip of between 70-90 miles depending on which MPTC we use for testing. It's a joke travelling for nearly 2 hours for a 10 minute test. Oh.....and some mod 1 sites are harder to pass at than others, that's why I never use Macclesfield for Mod 1 tests if I can help it...another cock up by the DSA. What worries me is, what if anything, will they replace it with? If it's left up to the DSA it will be another farce. Oh...and contrary to popular belief there were still "incidents" on the old test with U turns and emergency stops...but not normally reported as these were normally at quite slow speeds. Doing a swerve on puplic roads? Shouldn't be a problem ...we all swerve around potholes don't we? Could be a problem if it's swerve and stop though.

Anyone that waits another twelve months to avoid doing the current test is off their head. Just get it done and be done with it. There is no way of telling at this point if the new will be better than the old. Old test gets all the maneuver stuff done without the complications of car drivers.

As an Instructor, I have no problem with Module 1 and neither do the vast majority of our students. As has been said, the "incidents" tend to happen to those who have not had any training at all and have just turned up, either legally on their own 125 or illegally on a DAS level bike, at a mod 1 centre to "ride round a few cones". If the hazard avoidance and the controlled stop excercises were split, then I feel the number of "incidents" would reduce overnight. It would NOT reduce the chances of coming off, on the emergency stop exercise, but that used to happen, fairly regularly, on the road, under the old style test. I think that any form of avoidance excercise should take place off road, purely from a safety point of view. Also, if it is raining reduce the speed requirement from 50kph to 45kph (31.5mph to 28mph). Finally, alter the speed measured elements so the candidate must do between 50 and 60kph. How many of the incidents, were as a result of candidates massivly exceeding the 50kph requirement, I have seen some people hit 65kph (41mph) during the avoidance and send cones flying, not any of our students, I hasten to add! Is that the fault of the excercise or the candidate failing to do it properly? There is too much focus on doing enough speed, rather than doing the correct speed. 

An alteration to module 1, rather than scrapping it, would be the way to go, using the existing MPTC system. The biggest problem is actually getting hold of tests, to offer to students, rather than the test system itself.   

Impact to training providers

Of course this is positive news, the current set up was taking it too far. But spare a thought for those 'old' training providers who had to close as they were not located near to one of the test centres,  or the ones who remained and who have increased capacity only to see the rules changes now hit them where it hurts.

Someone should make sure that the changes, when they come, are there for a reasonable period of time.

Lastly,if you did take the test with a good training centre then you would have found both the mod 1 and 2 exams easily passable and have been trained to a good level in order to safely enjoy biking.

twist in the tale 2

Yep I've just read Back Road Riders blog too. That post test training thing must only be a rumour, but it would explain the 'real deal' the industry seem to have come out with on this one.

Most of us seemed to think that the test would just get tweaked but man this is root and branch jobby, just making it easier to pass. So Penning must have got something out of the deal safety wise.

Interesting point in a comment on that blog to. The BMF and MAG guardians of rider safety, never thought about that one before.

BTW have a Merry Christmas if you happen to read this, and if you are out and about this Yule take care.