No. 10 Response To On-Line Petition

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to postpone the date for bringing in the new motorcycle test (due sept 29 08) till all 66 sites are operational in the uk.”

Details of Petition:

“by sept 08 there will still be a large proportion of the uk without a local centre for this test. when first envisaged in early 2000 the DSA stated that the majority of candidates for test would not have to travel any more than 20 miles or 45 minutes, this is not the case. by sept 08 approx 40 sites will be operational with a further 26 operational later (up to 6 months) even when all the centres are operational many rural areas will be greatly disadvantaged.”


No. 10 Response:

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) . . . is building a national network of multi-purpose test centres (MPTC) across the country, offering in most places car tests as well as motorcycle tests, and in some places, bus and lorry tests. DSA will meet its travelling criterion of 20 miles and 45 minutes for most customers by 29 September.

DSA has always been committed to the provision of tests to candidates living in rural and semi-rural locations and, for this reason, it is providing test centres in some of the more remote areas of the country.

In attempting to provide these MPTCs DSA has faced huge challenges. In particular, it has had to operate in an intensely competitive land market and local councils have often been reluctant to grant planning permission for these unusual developments. Despite these difficulties, significant progress has been made and there will be 38 MPTCs in use on 29 September. DSA has also been working closely with its sister Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to allow the delivery of part-time testing from 12 of its sites from 29 September for tests at weekends.


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