HL Deb 26 February 1991 vol 526 cc863-4

3.11 p.m.

Lord Nugent of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are yet able to assess the benefits of the use of off-street training for young motorcyclists before the granting of driving licences.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, compulsory basic training for those who receive new provisional motorcycle and moped entitlement was introduced on 1st December 1990. It is too early to assess the benefits. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory will be assessing the impact of the compulsory training including the effect on motorcycle casualty rates.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that not very helpful Answer. Is my noble friend aware that the accident injury rate for young motorcyclists of 17 and 18 years of age is five times higher than that for older motorcyclists? Therefore, there is an urgent need for young people to have off-street training before obtaining a licence. Has off-street training capacity now reached a level at which all applicants for new motorcycle licences can be required compulsorily to acquire a certificate from an off-street training centre before they qualify for a licence?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I am aware of the horrifying figures quoted by my noble friend. For various reasons, however, the number of casualties and deaths is decreasing. We are satisfied that the provisions under the new arrangements are sufficient.

The Earl of Selkirk

My Lords, I greatly admire the courage of young motorcyclists. Will the noble Lord nevertheless suggest to them that they exercise greater care when riding through the streets?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I believe that that is the thrust of the training they receive.

Lord Clinton-Davis

My Lords, will the noble Lord indicate to the House how many off-street training centres there are, how many instructors are currently employed and how many inspectors are available in order to deal with the point so cogently put by the noble Lord, Lord Nugent? Can he indicate also whether the Government believe that it may be prudent to deny insurance to all learner drivers carrying out dispatch work while holding only a provisional licence?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, the Driving Standards Agency has approved approximately 200 training bodies operating from 850 training sites throughout Great Britain. The figures are still expanding. Nearly 2,500 instructor certificates have been issued, and that figure too is expanding. All training bodies are monitored and the DSA has undertaken to visit all training sites at least twice a year. I believe that the final part of the noble Lord's question is wide of the Question on the Order Paper.

Lord Nugent of Guildford

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether it is possible to force an applicant for a motorcycle driving licence to obtain a certificate from an off-street centre before he obtains his licence?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, my noble friend has raised a new dimension. I shall look into the matter and write to him.

The Viscount of Falkland

My Lords, is it not the case that many motorcycles now on the market are capable of top speeds well over double that of the legal speed limit? The rate of acceleration makes even a Porsche or a Ferrari look comparatively staid. Does any part of the off-street training for young motorcyclists —even if it is only a lecture—prepare them for handling larger motorcycles which have different characteristics?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, my understanding is that there is such training.