§ Vice-Admiral Hughes Hallettasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he has reached a decision concerning the representations recently made 15W to him in favour of lowering the age limit and abolishing the driving test for riders of mopeds; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI have received from the Committee on Road Safety a Report on the minimum age for motor cyclists, which is being published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and will be on sale tomorrow. The Committee's recommendations on age limits are that the minimum age for drivers of mopeds should be reduced to 15 and for motor cycles of over 250 c.c. should be increased to 17. Before I could consider lowering the minimum age I must be fully satisfied that it is safe to do so. I propose to seek the views of16W interested organisations on these proposals, which would require legislation.
The Committee also report in favour of a survey to obtain further information on accidents to motor cyclists in different age-groups; I propose to put this in hand. The Committee recommend that driving tests should be retained for mopeds and that licences granted to drivers who pass the moped test should be limited to that type of vehicle. Changes in the classification of 3-wheeled motor cycles for driving test purposes are also proposed. I am in general agreement with these recommendations, and will circulate draft amending Regulations to the interested organisations for comment.