ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PRACTICAL BIKE TEST

Hot off the Press

Parliamentary Transport Committee finds that the decision to introduce the Module 1 test manoeuvres with speeds of 50kph rather than 30mph was "BIZARRE". For details about their report, click here

The "new" test was introduced on 27 April 2009.

Speed Trap on the new Off-Road test circuit


So, what are the changes, and what will they mean to you? Of course, if you have already passed your test, nothing at all. Otherwise, read on.

First of all: why was the old test revised? To answer that question, we need look no further than Brussels. Apparently the number of motorcycle accidents is on the increase, and so an EU bureaucrat, was allocated the task of looking into possible reasons for this. His conclusions were that the reason why serious motorcycle accidents are on the increase is a direct consequence of motorcyclists being unable to weave around a line of cones, compounded by an inability to push their motorcycles backwards. And so was born the new test.

Figure of eight

What is the new test all about? The basic change is that some of the set exercises, such as the U-turn and Controlled Braking Exercise (emergency stop), together with some new ones, will be carried out in a controlled situation on a purpose built off-road site. These exercises will be conducted before the candidate takes to the road. If he displays a dangerous inability to perform these exercises, the test will end there and then. This off road site will be situated at a "Multi Purpose Test Centre" or MPTC in Euro-Speak. In order to meet the DSA's target of ensuring that most candidates will live within 45 miles of one, 200 are planned. The off-road part of the test is scheduled, with all the attention to detail that only a Eurocrat could muster, to take 8 minutes.
 

Hazard avoidance - not a major swerve

Part 1
The candidate will be taken to the test site, all 125 metres x 40 metres of it, marked out with multi coloured cones. And it will look something like this: or to be more accurate, exactly like this:



The examiner will explain each phase of the test, which will be carried out as follows:

1. Push or ride the bike into a coned "garage" and place it on the stand (side or main).

2. Take it off the stand and push it, in reverse, into the adjacent garage. You may choose your own starting garage, and therefore whether you push it to the right or the left. A single arc is not required. Place it back on the stand.

3. Execute a slow speed slalom through 5 yellow cones placed 4.5 metres apart.

4. Ride a figure "8", twice, around the two blue cones, placed 6 meters apart.

5. Ride around a 19 metre radius arc at 30 kph (19mph). After the arc, accelerate to at least 50kph (32mph). At the end of this straight your speed will be measured

6. Ride through the offset gate. This exercise simulates hazard avoidance.

7. Come to a controlled stop inside the coned "box"

8. Execute a U turn within 7.5 metres

9. Slow ride, following the examiner at a walking pace.

10. Around the arc again.

11. Accelerate up to 50kph (32mph) and execute emergency stop on examiner's signal. The speeds stipulated are mandatory. If they are not attained another attempt will be allowed.

At the discretion of the examiner, you could be asked to complete the circuit as shown, i.e. with the arc and hazard avoidance turning to the right, or, alternatively, with the arc and hazard avoidance turning to the left. If you want to see what this looks like, trace this diagram, and turn it over. Alternatively, hold it up to a mirror, bearing in mind that the numbers will now be difficult to read!

That is the end of PART 1.

Part 2
This is carried out on the road. Because there won't be any delays caused by carrying out the U turn and emergency stops on the road, this will involve more actual riding, and therefore more opportunity to make mistakes. Normal stops and starts, hill starts and angle starts are all part of the road.

So, what's all the fuss about? Well, on the minus side, the test is going to cost more (bet you'd worked that one out yourself hadn't you) and, if training is carried out on the actual test site, depending on the distance from your training centre, additional lessons may be needed, again at more cost. As far as the riding is concerned, the main problems will be: pushing the bike backwards; the slalom, 4 ½ metres between cones may seem a lot but is actually quite tight; the figure of 8, again quite tight; the circuit ride, 19mph is a fair lick; getting up to 32mph after the circuit ride is also quite a push; But there are also pros to balance the cons. Ask any learner rider about his main test worry and he will answer: "the U turn". The sting has well and truly been taken out of that one in the new test. 7 ½ metres?! You could turn an ocean liner around in that! The main benefit of the new system though will be that, although the exercises may be more demanding, they will, at least be carried out in a controlled, uniform, way and the riding school will be able to provide training under accurate test conditions, indeed, practice will be possible on the actual training site itself.

One final question: will the test achieve its stated aim, i.e. to reduce motorcycle accidents? The jury is out on that one - only time will tell.


Last updated 30th July 2010