The Third European Driving Licence Document has landed in the UK from the European Commission.
MAG attended a meeting at the Department for Transport (DfT) in January.
The meeting was attended by various interested parties from caravan organisations, HGV Operators to disabled
groups with the motorcycle lobby out in force.
Herald Ruyters from the European Commission was present giving a slide presentation on the directive and answering questions.
There are
two main changes that will effect motorcycling - changes in the age/type of motorcycle for taking a motorcycle test - fraud issues with driving licence's to include fitting a chip in the licence.
First Herald Ruyters confirmed that the introduced of the Second European Driving Licence would not be until 2008. This had never been confirmed and reference is made in annex of the Third EC Driving
Licence Directive, page 96 to be exact.
As reported in previous Network (December 2002) one of the main issues was the size of the training area (football pitch size) and the issue in respect of
its implementation and acquisition of the necessary land and facilities.
This was to enable the "off road" part of the test to be conducted safely. The test to include a swerve and brake
manoeuvre at 50kph, emergency stop and accelerating to 30kph around a semi circle marked out by cones.
Basically the 3rd EC Directive consultation as mentioned will see a change on age limits for
taking a test being standardised across Europe.
A rough guide is:
A1 Licence
125cc machine - at 16 years of age
11kW with a 0,1 kw/kg power to weight ratio
Theory Test + a Practical Test
A2 Licence
At 18 years of age
Machine no more than 35 kw (max de restriction no more than twice original machine power out put)
With a 0.2kw/kg power to weight ratio.
Direct Access at 18 years with a theory + a practical test
Stepped Access 2 years with A1 Licence + a practical test
A3 Licence (Full Licence)
Stepped Access 3 years with A2 Licence + a practical test
Direct Access at 24 years with a theory + a practical test
There is also an AM Licence category for 50cc machines with
a suggestion of access by 14 year olds taking only a theory test.
The main differences are the introduction of "Stepped" licences and a change to Direct Access age limit raised from 21
to 24 years of age.
Although MAG agrees that the training regime for Direct Access needs to be reviewed the directive is dealing with a problem in the UK that does not exist, with the "older
rider" causing the problems.
The Stepped Access suggestion on the route to a full licence also addresses a problem that does not exist in the UK and puts barriers in front of young
riders taking up motorcycling.
It must be easier to get a jet pilots licence and is definitely easier for a 17 year old to pass a car test and step into a Ferrari without any restrictions.
MAG has worked with FEMA to produce an alternative to the proposed licensing system.
The other issue is the change to a plastic only style of driving licence to combat fraud throughout the
European Union (EU)
The licence would be the same for every EU state recognised by all member states so if you moved from the UK to France you would not need to reset a test for that country,
that's the theory.
The licence would have an administrative renewal of every 10 years. BUT the licence would have a chip fitted which would retain certain information, this would not be
opposed on EU states but giving the attitude of the UK on ID cards the fitting of a chip in UK licences would seem a certainty.
The chip would only contain name, address, licence details and
would not contain penalty points that's not to say that those circumstances could change. The licence would be readable by police forces and writable for changes by DVLA.
The government will be putting out a consultation to the directive in Feb/March.
With the first reading in the EU Parliament in May there will only be a short time to respond.
