Some 57 per cent of motorcyclists are on provisional licences, riskingirksome restrictions which could result in fines and penalty points and loading from insurance companies. It makes no sense not to do the test,writes John Wheeler
As a motorcyclist it's frightening to think that one in four of the car drivers with whom I share the road space are on a provisional licence. Yet as an occasional car driver I share the road with motorcyclists around 57 per cent of whom are also on a provisional licence.
In other words, none of these provisional licence holders have yet demonstrated their fitness to be on the road. Why so many, motorcyclists especially?
Motorcycle provisional licence holders cannot use the motorways, ride outside the State or carry a pillion passenger. That's the legal situation at least. In theory these restraints ought to be enough, quite apart from the matter of personal pride, to encourage anyone to get through the test. But, as George Kitteringham of Hibernian Insurance says, in his 27 years in the business he has yet to hear of anyone holding a provisional licence being prosecuted for using the motorway or carrying a pillion passenger.
Perhaps with the introduction of penalty points that could change overnight? Nor is continuing to ride on a provisional licence cheap, and yet we know of one person now in his 16th year.
Hibernian Insurance load provisional licence motorcyclists by 35 per cent. Given an average premium of around €450, that means in total their clients are throwing away around €3,500,000 a year. And, if you asked them, they would all say motorcycle insurance was too expensive.
Riders in Ireland do not realise how lucky they are. In Britain they would be obliged to display "L" plates. Many there hate having to go around advertising the fact that they are unqualified.
Here, The Department of Transport, when asked why "L" plates are not required on motorcycles attributed it to "technical difficulties". That means they have not worked out how an "L" plate could be fitted to an Irish motorcycle.
If you lived in Germany you would have to attend a driving school and do 24 hours of theory lessons plus 30 hours of practical training, including four hours on motorways and three hours at night before you could ride unaccompanied.
The test is fairly basic. It is now more objective and structured since the introduction earlier this year of a new marking sheet.It simply looks for a very thorough knowledge and application of the rules of the road and good observation skills, the elementary survival tactics anyone needs in today's traffic conditions.
Last year 2,566 riders took the "A" licence test. Of these 1,931 (75.3 per cent) passed; 1,324 on the first attempt, 607 on a second or subsequent one. With the "A1" (under 125cc) test, out of 790 who took the test 410 (51.9 per cent) passed; 292 on the first attempt; 118 on a second or subsequent one.
On anecdotal evidence alone, those with proper training, reckoned to be less than 15 per cent of the total, achieved pass rates in the high 90 percent. Those who went into the test "blind", not knowing what would be required of them, clearly fared worse, especially those in the "A1" licence category.
Given the potential for freedom from irksome restrictions which could result in fines and penalty points and given the not insignificant insurance cost savings - which are there for the rest of your riding life - it makes absolutely no sense not to get the test out of the way.