Driving Licence Directive Misdirected

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Eamonn Townsend

Driving Licence Directive Misdirected

Post by Eamonn Townsend »

DRIVING LICENCE DIRECTIVE MISDIRECTED says BMF

New European motorcycle driving licence proposals currently before the European Parliament have been condemned as misguided and unnecessary by the British Motorcyclists Federation.

The BMF, the UK’s largest riders rights organisation and a respected body in the motorcycle training field, says that despite the findings of the recently completed €2.5 million ‘Motorcycle Accident In-Depth Study’ (MAIDS) research project, funded by European taxpayers, the motorcycle industry and other bodies including the BMF, the findings have been largely ignored.

MAIDS research showed that the three key factors in rider safety are the behaviour of other road users; rider experience and the road environment, but European Parliament Transport Committee proposals relating to the draft EU 3rd Driving Licence Directive ignore these. The proposals will:

Allow Member States freedom to increase the access ages to mopeds, scooters and motorcycles up to 26 years of age with the possible result of wide variation across the EU
Specify structured training (that due to small numbers is not commercially viable)
Specify minimum engine capacity (as well as power requirements) for the various test vehicle categories, therefore significantly restricting the range of test vehicles
Continue to restrict car licence holders to 50cc mopeds

And further:
Are inconsistent with the aim of harmonisation recommended by the initial draft directive
Are a step backwards in social mobility from the existing situation
Will have little effect on motorcycle safety as other road users are main contributors to PTW accidents

Now, in an unprecedented close alliance, European groups, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA), the manufacturer group the Association des Constructeurs Européens de Motocycles (ACEM), and the governing body Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), have united to bring pressure on the European Parliament.

In a letter to UK Members of the European Parliament, supporters of the alliance, namely the British Motorcyclists Federation, Motorcycle Action Group, Motorcycle Industry Association and other members of the National Motorcycle Council, have called upon European Parliamentarians to take action to ensure that the Directive is either re-drafted to take account of their joint concerns or is rejected.

Commenting, the BMF say that the EU proposal is premature and will create unacceptable financial barriers to motorcycling without guaranteeing any improvement in motorcycle safety.

BMF Senior Government Relations Executive Trevor Magner said: “I am amazed that after funding the MAIDS road safety project we should be facing a 3rd Driving Licence Directive that does not directly address any of the real issues. The BMF advocates that maintaining the legislation regarding access to motorcycles and scooters, (as presently in force under the 2nd Driving Licence Directive), would be a sensible move because under subsidiarity rules, appropriate improvements to current licensing schemes can already be implemented by Member States.”
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