21 June 2012

Changes to motorcycle licensing

| johnboy
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Justice and Community Safety have announced some tweaks to the way motorcycle licences are issued in Canberra:

“The pre-provisional training course that has, to date, been optional (except for those riders who failed the pre-provisional assessment) will become compulsory. At the end of this training course, riders will still need to pass the pre-provisional assessment to be issued a provisional rider licence,” said Mr Phillips.

The current requirements for obtaining an ACT provisional motorcycle licence require applicants to be at least 17 years of age and complete a minimum three months as a learner rider before being eligible to attempt the provisional rider assessment.

“ACT novice rider arrangements were reviewed through 2010-11, and the arrangements being implemented from 1 July are as a result of the review,” Mr Phillips said.

“Pre-learner and pre-provisional rider courses will align with those in NSW, providing consistency of training across the border and allowing rider training providers to deliver training to prospective NSW and ACT riders at the same time.

“Learner rider licences will now only be valid for one year rather than two years, with the licence fee being reduced accordingly.

“Similarly, certificates of competency will be reduced from 3 months to 1 month and riders will need to ensure they have their licence issued or re-issued within this timeframe.

“Riders who have already been issued with a two year learner rider licence will be allowed to continue riding until the expiry date on their learner licence.

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bystander_effect5:35 pm 25 Jun 12

Yeah, so I’ve had my L’s since December 2010 and riding pretty much 5 days a week since then. I got my letter dated 20 June in the mail today and naturally rang Stay Upright straight away to get into the P’s test this weekend. Poor lady there had been inundated with calls since Friday when the letters started being received by people such as me. She said she took 60 bookings already. Seems it would have been a little better managed for existing riders and for Stay Upright if a little more notice were given to assist with the transition, but hey what’s new… Wish me luck!

Mysteryman said :

I didn’t have to do the course, but some of my close friends did it. The consensus was that all the discussion was a repeat of everything in the L’s course.

That’s only half the course.

The afternoon is all about road craft, culminating in a ride out past Qangers. Everyone gets a turn to lead on the way home, with the instructor giving you feedback on your road craft. Very valuable.

There’s no such thing as too much training when you ride a bike.

aceofspades said :

Mysteryman said :

I’m not sure what the point of forcing the pre-provisional course is – all it does is give you the skills to complete the MOST. If you can do that without the course, then I don’t really see the point.

Regardless, licensing for motorcycles is reasonably good here already. The Stay Upright courses are comprehensive and do a good job of preparing aspiring riders. I’m glad the government hasn’t made any stupid decisions regarding the issue – the changes all seem pretty reasonable.

I failed my first test so was forced to do the pre-provisional course. There is more in that course than “giving you skills to complete the MOST”. I can remember huge discussions about staying alive on a bike. I use information from that course all the time on the road. It was well worthwhile.

I didn’t have to do the course, but some of my close friends did it. The consensus was that all the discussion was a repeat of everything in the L’s course.

I’d like to do my motorcycle license over here but got stuck with the confusing website and the best route for somebody older but who holds a full car license already.

I did the compulsory basic course in the UK and rode a small bike for 7 years in heavy traffic conditions….very different to here, you go to the front of the traffic queue at lights rather than waiting in line with the cars.
What I found is that it changed the way I drive a car, even though it was pretty simple “awareness” and balance stuff.
Even now if I’m turning left in a car I look over my left shoulder…..very useful with all these leftside cycle lanes in Canberra.

Mysteryman said :

I’m not sure what the point of forcing the pre-provisional course is – all it does is give you the skills to complete the MOST. If you can do that without the course, then I don’t really see the point.

Regardless, licensing for motorcycles is reasonably good here already. The Stay Upright courses are comprehensive and do a good job of preparing aspiring riders. I’m glad the government hasn’t made any stupid decisions regarding the issue – the changes all seem pretty reasonable.

I failed my first test so was forced to do the pre-provisional course. There is more in that course than “giving you skills to complete the MOST”. I can remember huge discussions about staying alive on a bike. I use information from that course all the time on the road. It was well worthwhile.

Ex Warrior said :

Yes understand but my mates 4 year old can ride a motorbike besides its a farking scooter im getting around on. Peolpel hire them on the gold coast without a licence.

On my course (several years ago now) the skills of the participants ranged from “didn’t even come close to passing” to “quite competent at freestyle aerial motorcross stunts”.

Ex Warrior said :

Interesting too how an unlicenced NSW 17yr old can get his L’s for a motor bike by sitting an online test for 20min

Actually, in NSW you have to do an online test AND a pre-learner course exactly the same as ours (if in Queanbeyan, at the same location with the same instructors). Although I think it might be possible to get an exemption if you live somewhere more then a couple of hundred kms from the nearest training centre.

p1 said :

Ex Warrior said :

I have never been treated like such a moronic idiot as I was when I went for the full day learners course.

They are catering to the “lowers common denominator”. Some truly moronic idiots are on those courses, and need to be treated accordingly, so everyone ends up being treated so.

“Learner rider licences will now only be valid for one year rather than two years, with the licence fee being reduced accordingly.”

This seems to be aimed at encouraging people to practice a little more intensely then get their licence – I guess they don’t want people who aren’t proficient enough to pass the P test out on the road for too long?

“Similarly, certificates of competency will be reduced from 3 months to 1 month and riders will need to ensure they have their licence issued or re-issued within this timeframe.”

This though, seems to be saying “if you can’t get off your arse and get into an ACT Gov’t shop front (during business hours and potentially queuing for an hour or two) within one month of doing the L or P test you don’t really need your P’s. An interesting bit of bureaucracy.

Yes understand but my mates 4 year old can ride a motorbike besides its a farking scooter im getting around on. Peolpel hire them on the gold coast without a licence.
Interesting too how an unlicenced NSW 17yr old can get his L’s for a motor bike by sitting an online test for 20min

I’m not sure what the point of forcing the pre-provisional course is – all it does is give you the skills to complete the MOST. If you can do that without the course, then I don’t really see the point.

Regardless, licensing for motorcycles is reasonably good here already. The Stay Upright courses are comprehensive and do a good job of preparing aspiring riders. I’m glad the government hasn’t made any stupid decisions regarding the issue – the changes all seem pretty reasonable.

Ex Warrior said :

I have never been treated like such a moronic idiot as I was when I went for the full day learners course.

They are catering to the “lowers common denominator”. Some truly moronic idiots are on those courses, and need to be treated accordingly, so everyone ends up being treated so.

“Learner rider licences will now only be valid for one year rather than two years, with the licence fee being reduced accordingly.”

This seems to be aimed at encouraging people to practice a little more intensely then get their licence – I guess they don’t want people who aren’t proficient enough to pass the P test out on the road for too long?

“Similarly, certificates of competency will be reduced from 3 months to 1 month and riders will need to ensure they have their licence issued or re-issued within this timeframe.”

This though, seems to be saying “if you can’t get off your arse and get into an ACT Gov’t shop front (during business hours and potentially queuing for an hour or two) within one month of doing the L or P test you don’t really need your P’s. An interesting bit of bureaucracy.

So I had wind of this and booked my P’s test for late June.

I have never been treated like such a moronic idiot as I was when I went for the full day learners course.

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