£Millions of taxpayers’ cash wasted on “bungled” new motorcycle test

New motorcycle test centres were a waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, a committee of MPs has concluded.

Smaller old-style test centres should instead have been kept open, according to the Commons Transport Committee.

In a report on the new European motorcycle test which was introduced last April, the committee also says the Government has not provided enough new centres and made the exam more difficult than required by Brussels.

The committee said: “The Government’s decision to introduce large Multi Purpose Test Centres and close down many small, convenient motorcycle test sites was unjustified…

“Almost eleven months after the introduction of the new test, it is unacceptable that the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has failed to get all 66 planned centres operational, inconveniencing motorcyclists and trainers and driving up the cost of doing a test.”

Committee Chair Louise Ellman MP said: “Many candidates and trainers now have to travel too far for their motorcycle test.

“This adds to the cost, and in some cases, exposes candidates to fast and dangerous roads on the way to a test site-before they have even taken their test.”

The news is a boost for MCN’s call for more test centres to be provided and for a controversial “swerve and stop” manoeuvre, in which dozens of learners have crashed, to be split into two exercises.

Over 40 MPs have signed a motion for our proposals to be debated in the House of Commons.

To read how the committee slammed ministers for failing to negotiate a UK exemption from the requirement to do exercises at 31mph, get MCN, on sale March 24.