The Department for Transport (DfT) – in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – has announced new safety standards for motorcyclists, lorry drivers, bus drivers and new drivers who want to tow medium-sized trailers.

The news measures are to bring the UK in line with European requirements regarding driver testing, training, examination and licensing, which come into force in 2013. No other drivers are affected.

The current two categories of motorbike will be increased to three categories – A1 (up to 125cc), A2 (up to 35Kw) and A (above 35Kw). New rules will also be introduced for riders of larger bikes.

Riders wanting to progress to larger categories of motorbike will have to take a further test. There will also be a rise in the minimum age from 21 to 24 for those wishing to start riding larger bikes without previous experience.

Riders moving from smaller to larger motorcycles will not need to do a familiarisation course, as originally proposed in the consultation. Instead – as suggested by the Motorcycle Industry Association – motorcyclists who have had a full licence for a smaller bike for two years or more will need to be accompanied by an Authorised Trainer while on public roads until they have passed their test.

New car drivers and light van drivers wanting to tow trailers will be able to tow a slightly larger trailer on a normal car driving licence (category B) if they take a further test or undertake training. There will also be a restriction on the overall size of the vehicle/trailer combination that can be driven on a category B+E licence entitlement (car/light van plus trailer), said the DfT.

From 2013, lorry and bus drivers under the age of 45 will need to confirm they are fit and will renew their licence every five years – although under-45s will not require a full medical report and will still only need to renew their photograph every 10 years. Lorry and bus drivers over 45 will need a full medical report. All other driving licences will continue to be renewed every 10 years.

Compulsory initial qualification, periodic training and quality assurance checks will be required for driving examiners under the new measures.

Noel Shanahan, chief executive of the DVLA said:

‘We are implementing the requirements of the new directive with the least possible inconvenience to the UK bus and haulage industry who already operate to a high levels of safety with the vast majority of drivers in the industry already ensuring that they are fit to drive.’

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