Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Mrs. Ellman
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the arrangements for the safety of candidates taking the Module One motorcycle test; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark
In order to design a safe off-road manoeuvre test to comply with the European Directive, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) undertook trials and risk assessments involving rider training organisations. The Agency tested the proposals in public consultation and benchmarked ideas with comparable organisations in other member states.

Prior to the introduction of the two-part motorcycle test, DSA carried out a risk assessment of both Modules of the new test.

This included assessments and identification of appropriate controls of the testing area, including the boundaries and the surface of the off-road manoeuvring area. The level of preparedness of test candidates was also assessed.

Copies of the risk assessment have been placed in the Libraries of the House.