Decline in young people taking test

[WD Forte]

MAG keep sending me stuff and while I ignore most of it,
this seemed a bit alarming and somewhat sad too if its true.
It is just figures for 18 year olds I know,
but if there's a similar pattern across other age groups, we'll be a minority soon

Quote:

From Oliver Rose, MAG National Clubs Officer: One thing at MAG we're obviously concerned about is the latest statistics from the department of transport that show the rate of young people taking up biking (based on test passes) is significantly down. As reported in July 2014 Government figures released last week show that in the year 2012-2013, 3,333 18-year-olds completed the practical motorcycle test while in 2013-2014 only 216 did.

This is something we'd love to see change, and one of the things we feel may be affecting the figures is the combination of tests required to get a full licence (the result of the EU Driving Licence Directives, and their implementation in the UK).

We're looking to put together an expert working group who can help us get to the bottom of this concern. We are looking for approved instructors and their employers who can assist us.

If you're in a position to help in anyway drop me an e-mail to oliver.rose@mag-uk.org

If it’s not for you but you know others that may be in a position to help, then share this and do your bit to help us get this disastrous legislation overturned to protect our way of life.
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bikers smell of wee

[Itchy]

Consider the palava needed to get a licence. If I were 17 years younger I would consider it too many hoops.

And to think biking schools campaigned for more tests, they should have remembered to be careful what they wished for.
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[WD Forte]

And to think biking schools campaigned for more tests

Did they?
Goose and golden egg comes to mind
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bikers smell of wee

[Rogerborg]

Yes, the 3DLD allows for a sort of "CBT+" upgrade route. 7+ hours of training, assessment of skills, done.

The DfT were minded to allow that, but under lobbying changed their minds and went for a full fat retest regime. In practice this means doing training and tests, on separate days, on training school bikes, at significantly more cost to candidates than a single day train-and-assess.

I did ask the D(V)SA how they ensured that the mandatory minimum of 7 hours of training required for "accelerated" access (A2 to A after 2 years but under 24) was done.

They don't ensure it.

So for all their gold plating, and hoop jumping, they're not even fully compliant with the Directive.



Anyway, MAG had plenty of opportunities to do all this before we penned our 3DLD implementation, while Mike "the bike" Penning was at the helm. I have no idea what they think they'll achieve now, even with a respected elder statesman like Lembit Öpik on board to give them some gravitas.

https://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/files/2010/05/lemb.jpg
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[Northern Monkey]

Why would an 18 year old pass a test.

They can either do a cbt, and ride around on a 125, or

do a cbt, do some training, pass a theory test, do a module 1 test, then do a module 2 test, and then still be stuck on the same 125

My guess is they are saving their ponds until their 19th birthday to do an A2 test.
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[Alpha-9]

Northern Monkey is right, they are only looking at 18 year olds, noone in there right mind would do a 125 test, it's just pointless when you can ride one on a CBT forever instead
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Fzr-600 1999

[chickenstrip]

We're already a minority; always have been, and a tiny one at that.

Have I read/you got that figure right? 216?!

As a practicing cynic where bikes and government are concerned, I can't help but imagine some killjoy bods at DOT rubbing their hands in glee: "all this fucking them around is finally paying off - no more bikes soon!"
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[Alpha-9]

On a related note I passed my tests again today, so +1 to those numbers
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Fzr-600 1999

[Stil]

Agree, nobody with half a brain cell will bother forking out for tests at 18.

I wouldn't say complexity of tests is a problem The age restrictions, the fact that you have to repeat tests for A2 and A and cost of everything involved are the issue (even more so if your unfortunate enough not to pass first, second or even third time).

[HotdogMcDraw]

Agreed with Northern Monkey and Alpha-9. In honesty i feel sorry for the youngsters who want a bike but are restricted to what they can ride, so off putting. One of them may depend in this type of transport for long distance commuting, to ride it on a 125? no thanks.
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https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=284963 - What to expect on a MOD 1 (contains video footage) - Posted by BG5067

Honda Rebel 125 (L Plate Warrior) - Nov 2013 to Aug 2014, BMW G650 GS ABS - Aug 2014 to Current

[Alpha-9]

[thx1138]

yeah, I could barely scrape up the money for petrolwhen I was 18, let alone tests and lessons

[map]

From personal experience I can see why.
My lad is just going to keep his L plates and 125 and repeat cbt until he's 24.
Then he will think about if he has the cash to pay for das.
That is if he can be bothered as hoping to get car licence before that to help job opportunities.

Then again he may wait until 25 for the insurance break.

So the existing system is not designed to help people ride bikes. The tiered test regime is financially crippling and people effectively lose money swapping/upgrading bikes.
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[wr6133]

I wonder how many will think to much bother wait till 24 and get a real licence, then by the time they are 24 have lost interest/added it too the pile of forgotten dreams. I know from speaking to a guy from a local school they have had zero A1 students but also very very few A2 students. Bread and butter this year for them has been guys on the wrong side of 50.

[Alpha-9]

My instructor said he had done like 10 CBTs over the weekend but no actual tests booked in

other guys in the test centre were saying its dead around now mostly due to shit weather, were on about doing car tests as well just to keep afloat
all the enhanced rider shit is a waste of money for instructors and noone does it either
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Fzr-600 1999

[Kickstart]

Hi

If I was 17 / 18 again there is no way I would bother doing my test. I can see very small reasons for doing a test (such as being able to do the test for less than a CBT renewal - such as if a parent is an instructor), but pretty slim. After all once you have your test all you gain is being able to ride your restricted 125 with a pillion and / or on the motorway.

Not worth bothering until you are 24 and can do the real test.

All the best

Keith
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[Copycat73]

[Kickstart]

[Alpha-9]

Well I guess inexperience is the downfall indeed

Does it class them by engine capacity though?
Seems be a govt thinking that more capacity = more accidents
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Fzr-600 1999

[Copycat73]

[Kickstart]

[Alpha-9]

So really the licensing regimes forces more high risk groups, young CBT riders
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Fzr-600 1999

[mentalboy]

[Alpha-9]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]