§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to amend the rule providing for a one-year ban on learner motorcyclists if the motorcycle test is not passed within two years of commencement of learner-driving; and if he will make a statement. [133463]
§ Mr. HillAs announced in March in our road safety strategy "Tomorrow's roads—Safer for Everyone", we propose to abolish that rule in the context of improved training arrangements. Learner riders will have to hold a training certificate, and these certificates will have a two year validity period after issue.
934WMost learner riders pass their test within six months, and we want to encourage learner riders to reach test standard within a reasonable period. But we think a further training requirement for anybody who has not passed a test within two years is preferable to a one year disqualification, during which riding skills are likely to decline rather than improve. We hope to bring these new arrangements into force around the end of the year.