New laws to target motorbikes in safety overhaul May 2003

 

THE Government is planning to raise the motorcycling age limit from 16 to 18 and introduce compulsory training within months to curb spiralling deaths. The radical move by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan follows growing concern at the numbers killed or seriously injured on motorbikes and mopeds - 20 already this year. It also comes after a confidential ultimatum to the Government by insurers that they will stop covering any new inexperienced riders under-25 or provisional licence holders from July 1. More than 70pc of the country's 47,000 motorcyclists are on provisional licences, have never done a driving test, had no training with many driving sometimes for over 20 years on lapsed provisional licences, it was also learned. Radical recommendations have been accepted by the minister within the past week in the face of a motorcycle and moped death rate which is now the highest in Europe and three times that of the UK. The Irish Independent has learned that within the next few months the minister, alarmed at the number of fatalities, is to introduce a package of measures on a phased basis including:

* Raising the minimum age for holding a motorcycle licence to 18 years from the current 16 for either a motorcyle or moped.

* Introduce compulsory basic training.

* Reduce the "unacceptably high numbers" on provisional licences - 33,000 of the estimated 47,000 bikers.

* Introduce a stringent driving test for motorcyclists.

* Force provisional bikers to display L-plates and wear high visibility jackets.

* Bring in special penalty points offences for speeding on motorcycles.

At present motorcyclists can get points for speeding although not many have got them. The minister is also to reduce the scandalous number of provisional licences held by motorcyclists after being told that 90pc of claims from pillion passengers involve provisional licence drivers - even though it is illegal for them to carry passengers. The Governments response within the past week was prompted by a top level review which found that a range of measures, already in place in other countries, would save at least 30 lives each year. Hibernian Insurance, the biggest in the country and the only one covering young motorcyclists, told the Government it plans to stop covering any more inexperienced riders from July 1. In the absence of Government action Hibernian will take the radical measure leaving thousands of motorcyclists without cover. The death rate here is the highest Europe and three times that in the UK or any other EU country.