Call to improve basic motorcycle training

A coalition of organisations is calling on the Government to make changes to compulsory basic training (CBT) for motorcycles to strengthen safety standards and reduce danger on roads. The current CBT for motorcycles and mopeds, which enables people as young as 17 years to ride up to the national speed limit with L-plates after one day of training and without a theory test, was developed more than 30 years ago.

The coalition, which includes Transport for London (TfL), the Motorcycle Industry Association, the National Motorcyclists Council, and other transport authorities and road safety charities, has written to the Government stressing that improving the CBT will make a ‘huge impact on the safety of the United Kingdom’s roads’.

The letter calls on the Government to introduce:

• powers to revoke CBT certificates or take other measures for learner riders who have accrued six penalty points
• restrictions limiting learners who complete their CBT course on a machine with automatic transmission to riding an automatic machine
• a combined CBT and DAS instructor qualification assessment
• changes to the CBT syllabus, including requiring instructors to ensure trainees are appropriately dressed
• a theory test as part of or prior to CBT