MAG: European Bandwagon Moves Against Motorcycling

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So am I alone in approving these licencing changes?


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Saw them in MCN, I don't have a problem with em.... but then I already have a licence and aint so young anymore

[northwind]

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

His biased statement conflicts with research which indicates that the primary blame for accidents with motorcycles and other vehicles lies with the other vehicle driver at least 40% of the time. Given that it is MAG's opinion that the emphasis should be on other vehicle drivers yet the directive does not address car drivers via the licensing "regime" for these vehicles.

I love the way they just rush trhrough this paragraph in thr hope that you won't actually notice what they've said. Bike crashes are up, and the majority of 2-vehicle crashes involving a bike are not the fault of the other vehicle. And thse guys are supposed to be on the "anti" side.

There's definately a place for something like the MAG in UK riding. But unfortunately, at the moment it's filled by the MAG, who are a joke. They came out swinging against the vehicle tax hike of £2 Below inflationary increases are apparently anti-biker (the tax rate having not changed for a while)

I am all for improved rider training, but fear that these proposals miss the point.
Training should also be aimed at car drivers with more emphasis placed on awareness of othesr.
anti-social/bullying type drive aggressive driving/riding should be stamped out with heavy fines
Finally and this is my opinion they should scrap the direct access.
I think it is basically wrong to let someone who due to age and wealth can pass there test and then jump onto there R1 etc with race rep leathers and helmet and then crash through the wall on the first bend they come to.
I believe that its riding experience that counts not age, just because you have been driving a car for 20 years doesnt mean you can handle the lastest factory rocketship.
This will not apply to most people on this site as even those who have done direct access are on this site because they own an SV, mostly 650's and they have bought these as a sensible stepping stone.
I live in the peak district and see many of these mid life crisis bikers. They are only into it for the image/fashion, they never wave to other bikes or stop to help the biker in trouble and are only intersted in showing off there latest replica helmet.
Finally we should oppose the law not because i want to keep the death toll high but because it only targets bikes and therefore Is AGAINST MY RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND EXPRESSION. article 8 of the european charter.
Chog

I don't have any kind of problem with progressive licensing, in fact I am positively in favour of it! I am also positively in favour of periodic re-testing, I really believe that the roads would be much safer if we had to resit our licenses every 5 years. BUT to only enforce it on one particular group of road users is wrong, if they really want to make the roads safer then introduce these rules onto all road user groups.

Originally Posted by jonboy

So am I alone in approving these licencing changes?


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No. Only things I disagree with is the 2 year restriction of the categories - tbh one would be fine.

But Im sort of anti-MAG/BMF atm. I'd rather they concentrated on:

1. campaigning for ensuring CBT standards are improved and adhered to and all the cowboy training operations are closed down,
2. the kill spills campaign,
3. opening up bus lanes

and other useful campaigns rather than keep trying to fight the helmet law because it should be a choice or this one. Tbh I think MAG and BMF just go anti government changes for the hell of it sometimes.

If someone wants a bike licence they will still get one, or like some people on here will get a restricted one and ride illegally. I think the "this will kill motorcycling" paranoia forgets the fact that this is trying to address the fact we are a high percentage of fatalities and serious injuries, regardless of fault and its designed to be a "this way wont kill as many motorcyclists" policy.

Kind of links into the other thread I posted on earlier. It scares me a 21 year old with no experience can do a 3 day DAS and then go on a Busa if he can afford the insurance. To me that is just asking for trouble - especially as the overconfidence and complacency kick in.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Mariner

BUT to only enforce it on one particular group of road users is wrong, if they really want to make the roads safer then introduce these rules onto all road user groups.

The reason they apply it to bikers and not car users is that very few 18 year olds can afford a car with the performance of an R1, or even an SV. This is where I think the argument loses direction a little... The SV's considered a beginners or slow bike, but it still does 0-60 in much the same time as a Ferrari F40, or a standing quarter in the same time as an Aston Martin Vantage. So car ownership sort of self-selects against 18 year olds in stupidly powerful cars.

Originally Posted by Mariner

if they really want to make the roads safer then introduce these rules onto all road user groups.

this has been my problem for a long time

i've known people who've had big powerful cars from passing their tests, whereas i had to pootle around on a restricted bike

i do understand that moeny restricts car buying and not bikes in the same way, but keep changing the rules for us and not them (car drivers) and there won't be any of us left
Newbie car drivers should be restricted in the early days, maybe a 1.4, then see how the country/europe reacts to these kind of rule changes

Let's face it, if the Government/EU really cared about safety first and foremost then it would issue an immediate power and speed restriction to suit.

ie. a little black box to prevent us doing any more than say, 85mph, fitted at your next MOT.

Bikes are an acute niche in tax collection compared to cars, especially people who absolutely depend on a bike as their only mode of trasnport. Therefore it's no hardship for them to squeeze more and more red-tape into the learning process/ownership costs.

Doing the same to car owners causes outrage, remember the fuel protests. How effective would they have been if it was only bikers who were targeted?


Half-measures and compromise is what the Government is all about these days.
The smoking ban fiasco is just the same. They're bad for us so ban them outright throughout the country asap, we'd all benefit. They don't owe tobacco companies any favours, so stop buttering them up and think of our nations future first.

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