Road Safety Minister, Jesse Norman, today (19 December 2017) revealed that motorcyclists are set to benefit from improvements to motorcycle training. This follows a public consultation on a number of proposal to modernise motorcycle training.

The compulsory basic training (CBT) course, which allows motorcyclists to ride unaccompanied with L plates has largely remained unchanged since its introduction in 1990.

However, motorcyclists have given their backing to a raft of improvements, including new riders having to pass a theory test before they take a CBT course, and provisional licence holders being stopped from riding and having to take further training if they get 6 penalty points.

Road Safety Minister Jesse Norman said:

“We have one of the best road safety records in the world, but we are determined to do more to prevent deaths and serious injuries.

“Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users and have the highest fatality rate of any group. That is why I am pleased to announce these changes to motorcycle training. These improvements should equip learners with a wider range of experience and better riding skills, helping to make our roads safer for everyone.”

Last year 319 motorcyclists were killed, and 5,553 were seriously injured. With around 1 in 6 motorcycle casualties being moped or scooter riders.

DVSA Head of Rider and Vocational Policy Mark Winn said:

“Our priority is to help riders through a lifetime of safe riding.

“In 2016, over a third of moped and motorcyclist casualties were aged between 16 and 24.  We want to reduce the risk they face by introducing more realistic and individually tailored training, provided by better qualified instructors.

“Making these improvements to training will help make sure motorcyclists have the skills and knowledge they need to help them stay safe on our busy, modern roads.”

A public consultation carried out by the Department for Transport (DfT) and DVSA on 9 proposed improvements received more than 2,200 responses. Those responding included motorcyclists, representatives in the motorcycle industry and road safety groups.

The results of the consultation, which have been published today, reveal that of those who responded:

• 92% support introducing a training course that existing riders can take to upgrade their motorcycle licence, rather than having to take extra tests
• 85% agree new riders having to pass a theory test before they take a CBT course, or as part of their course
• 85% support revoking CBT certificates from riders who get 6 penalty points - it would stop them from riding with L plates after getting points for offences including careless or dangerous riding
• 84% agree restricting riders who take their CBT course on an automatic motorcycle to only riding automatics
• 85% support restructuring CBT courses to focus on the importance of equipment and safety clothing, on-site training, motorcycling theory and on-road practical riding skills

There was also overwhelming support for DVSA’s plans to improve the way motorcycle instructors are qualified and quality assured.

• 97% support increasing the range of checks that DVSA carries out on motorcycle training schools
• 87% support improving the way that instructors qualify to provide motorcycle training
• 94% support introducing a system for motorcycle training schools to be given recognition for consistently high standards

Some of the proposals require further consultation to work through the details of how the changes will work. DfT and DVSA plan to consult on these in Spring 2018.

Representatives from the rider training industry are also supportive of the changes.

Motor Schools Association of Great Britain (MSA GB) general manager John Lepine MBE said:

“It is vital that over time we update and modernise all our rider and driver training procedures in line with up to date thinking and research.

“Following on from the successful changes to the driving test we welcome these changes to rules surrounding the safe riding of motorcycles.

“In particular we welcome the improved standards for motorcycle training schools and motorcycle instructors which recognises the importance of high quality training in delivering high quality road safety outcomes.”

Driving Instructors Association (DIA) Chief Motorcycle Examiner Mark Jaffe said:

“As the largest driver and rider training association in the UK, the DIA have been working with the DVSA and the DfT to improve the standard of rider training at all levels for a number of years.

“The consultation results shows support for the changes which we believe are long overdue. The changes will increase the importance on riders getting the correct training for the machines they are riding and reduce the number of casualties through better and more focused training.”

Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) Director of Safety and Training Karen Cole said:

"We welcome the publication of responses to the consultation on modernising motorcycle training and look forward to working with the DVSA to significantly improve rider safety in the future.

"It is important that powered two wheelers remain accessible though, as they are the only affordable form of transport for many people and an increasingly important part of our transport mix as commuters seek solutions to creeping congestion."

There are 40% more supercars on UK roads than there were five years ago, according to research by car buying comparison site Motorway.co.uk. Slowing consumer spending and a declining car market - down 9.3% in September vs September 2016 - haven’t stalled the rise of the supercar, as the numbers registered to drive on UK roads has increased by almost 8% (7.7%) in the past year alone.

Pensions Minister Steve Webb joked in 2014 that retirees should be free to spend their pension pots on a Lamborghini if they wanted to. While it’s unlikely many pensioners did spend big on a new Lambo, numbers have risen from less than 800 in 2013 to more than 1,300 on the road in 2017 - an increase of 54%.

And if you thought an electric supercar would never take off, think again. The BMW i8, the world’s first petrol-electric hybrid supercar, has proved a huge success if UK registrations are anything to go by. There are 1,747 currently registered in the UK in 2017; that’s 14.6% more than last year, and over six times (526%) more than in 2014 (its year of release).

Designed to challenge diesel trucks as king of the road, Tesla has unveiled its first electric articulated lorry with the vehicle set to go into production in 2019 - with a range of 500 miles on a single charge.

Chief executive Elon Musk also revealed a new Roadster, which he said would be "the fastest production car ever" made.

The Roadster will have a range of close to 1,000km (620 miles) on a single charge and will do 0-100mph in 4.2 seconds.

Describing it as "a hardcore smackdown to gasoline cars," Musk said riding in traditional cars would be like driving "a steam engine with a side of quiche." The new Roadster will be available in 2020.

The Tesla Semi will achieve 0-60mph in 20 seconds when pulling 36,287kgs (80,000lbs), the maximum allowed on US roads.

Speaking at Tesla's facility in Los Angeles, chief executive Elon Musk said: "It's not like any truck that you've ever driven."

However, the charismatic Mr Musk faces continued pressure from investors and customers as the firm struggles to meet demand for its Model 3 car – which is behind schedule due to factory delays, a situation Mr Musk described as “production hell.”

As well as coming up against diesel incumbents, Tesla also faces other electric rivals. Concept electric big rigs have been unveiled by Daimler, Volkswagen and Cummins - though all fall short on range, and none are currently on the roads.

There are an estimated 3.5 million truck drivers in the US, the vast majority of whom drive diesel-powered engines. Tesla will not be able to compete on diesel’s range, and battery specialists doubt Tesla can produce a powerful enough battery at a reasonable price.

As new data shows the number of vehicles stolen has risen by nearly a third in the past three years, a simple plug in device working with a smartphone app will tell a motorist the exact location of their car at any given time, aiding its speedy recovery by the Police.   The Smartplug from connected car service, Smartdriverclub, slots in under the dashboard enabling a range of services, from accident assistance to stolen vehicle tracking as well as insurance.

Penny Searles, CEO of Smartdriverclub says: “The number of vehicles on the road with tracking capabilities is growing exponentially as a by-product of telematics insurance and the growth of connected cars, eliminating much of the work required by the Police in locating stolen vehicles with this technology. We know Police resource is under severe pressure, so being able to take advantage of this technology at zero cost to them, works in everyone’s interests.

“Sadly many stolen vehicles are used in other acts of crime and are usually driven at speed and without care so it is vital the car is recovered quickly.  A simple piece of tech that the driver can add themselves to their car will identify the exact location of the vehicle so that we can alert the Police.  It’s free to insurance customers along with services such as accident support, alerts to mechanical issues and fuel monitoring and has already aided a number of vehicle theft recoveries for our customers.

“The Government has challenged the insurance industry to use technology to de-risk driving and incentivise safer driving.  Smartdriverclub has more than met this challenge. Connected technology in cars can cut accidents, support theft tracking and reduce insurance premiums.  The more motorists that have tracking capabilities, the more chance we have of bringing motor insurance costs down for all.”

Smartdriverclub comprises the following services in one package:

My Mechanic - This will alert a motorist if a car problem crops up, suggest what they can do about it and find a local dealer they can talk to.  This includes TAX and MOT reminders

Crash Assistance - If the customer is in a collision and Smartdriverclub can’t reach the customer on their mobile phone, they will contact the emergency services and direct them to the location.

Stolen Car - An in-car tracker activated by the customer means that if it’s stolen, the Police should know exactly where to look.

My Driving - Motorists can save money on fuel costs by seeing how efficiently their car performs on each journey with a smart driving history that helps them manage fuel use.

My Deals - Customers can save money on everything from servicing to new tyres. Just tap through the app for the latest deal from their dealership.

Value My Car - Smartdriverclub provides a valuation of the customer’s car that’s actually based on their car so that they can use this instant price for better deals and finance.

Where Did I Park? - A handy little map is provided to those that have forgotten where they parked

Business Miles – Business drivers can accurately record their business vs personal miles and download the information directly into their expense forms, confident that it is validated information for mileage claims

Club Insurance –  Preferential rates for good drivers based on their driving behaviour, to ensure customers are not paying for the poor behaviour of others.

With the gradual phasing out of petrol and diesel cars over the next few years, electric vehicles will become increasingly more common, but convincing every motorist to switch to fully electric cars will take more time than anticipated, according to experts.

The shift to electric cars is already under way, however new research by leading UK indoor karting company TeamSport has revealed that Brits are still struggling to separate fact from fiction.

The launch of the Tesla Model S in 2012 proved that electric cars can perform just as well as petrol. However, the research highlighted that half of drivers (50%) think electric cars are unreliable and a further 65% said they believe that electric vehicles are much slower.

The study also claimed that the majority of drivers still don’t fully understand the capabilities of electric vehicles, with almost three-quarters (73%) of the nation believing that electric cars are only suitable for short distance driving.4

Nearly two-thirds of the nation (62%) also believe that petrol cars give a better driving experience than electric cars.

The biggest barriers to ownership of an electric car is the limited availability of charging points, with 72% of respondents believing that there will not be enough docking stations for electric cars to become mainstream. However, there are currently around 12,194 connectors for electric vehicles, in over 4,303 locations across the UK.

Following the news that the British government has pledged to ban the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040, manufacturers will now have to completely change the way they produce cars and drivers will have little choice but to go electric.

Dominic Gaynor, Managing Director at TeamSport, said: “The uptake of electric cars is already increasing at an impressive rate in Britain. The UK Government has done its bit to help increase the popularity of electric cars, committing to provide £35 million to improve the nation’s EV infrastructure. The next step is to convince British motorists.

“We have four tracks across the UK that feature electric karts; having a go in one may be just what you need to change your opinion on electric vehicles. We’ve had some serious petrolheads comment on how good the driving experience is in an electric kart.”

Sylvain Filippi, Chief Technology Officer at DS Virgin Racing, said: “Electric vehicle technology is still not understood by the public, which is ironic as in the early 1900s, all the best vehicles were electric. Cheap oil meant the beginning of affordable petrol cars for the masses, and we never looked back, until now. Internal combustion engines have been the norm for decades, whereas credible EVs have only been brought back to market in the past five years, hence the lack of understanding of the technology.

“Statistics show that, once someone tries an electric vehicle, the feedback is very positive most of the time. On a personal level, I drive a high performance electric car that definitely provides a fantastic driving experience. Instant torque is addictive, even compared to high performance petrol cars, and EVs designed from the ground up with the batteries under the floor provide excellent chassis dynamics as well.

“Formula E has been growing exceptionally rapidly since its creation, and this is due to many factors. Firstly, the quality of racing is very high, the races are unpredictable and the experience is very entertaining for fans, who can’t predict which driver is going to win. Even though all cars now have different EV technology powering them, the performance of the field is still very close, allowing many overtakes and on-track action.

“Secondly, the EV technology being developed is highly relevant to the road car industry, which means that almost all the major car manufacturers are now joining or interested in joining the championship. The best drivers in the world are also joining, so the level of competition is very high.

“By providing fast and exciting racing, the FIA Formula E Championship will hopefully change perceptions and make people realise that EVs can be fast and fun to drive.”

Sam Bird, a professional driver at Formula E said: “Electric vehicles are the future. It’s exciting to think where technology might be in 10 years, and being involved in Formula E means we’re part of that journey.”

In an age where many of us have satnavs built into our cars or smartphones, one may presume that getting lost while driving is now a thing of the past. But British drivers collectively spend more than seven million* hours lost while driving every month, according to new research from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, released ahead of the August bank holiday, when around 13m cars are expected to be on the roads to enjoy the long weekend.

While 84% of UK motorists have a satnav (up from 54% ten years ago) the research found that in total, a huge 38% admit that they have been lost while driving in the past month – for an average of 28 minutes. And many admit they only have themselves to blame – 60% say they got lost because they weren’t paying attention, 30% say they tried to beat the satnav by trying to take a better route to avoid congestion and 24% just didn’t follow the satnav’s instructions.

The research, which was conducted among 4,500 motorists from the UK, Spain, France, Germany, and Ireland, found that British drivers were the most likely to get lost. And when drivers from the UK do get lost, they’re not comfortable asking for help. Just 42% say that they are prepared to ask for directions when they find they don’t know where they are going.

In most instances, getting lost is little more than an inconvenience, but the consequences can be more serious. One in 20 British drivers (5%) say that they have even called 999 after getting severely lost in their car. And not knowing the way can lead to missing important events and dealing with the unexpected – 5% say they have missed a flight or a wedding, while 4% have had to camp in the car for the night after getting lost.

Given that getting lost can lead to sudden overnight stays and changes of plans, UK motorists may perhaps need to prepare more for the possibility that they may lose their way. In fact, when heading off on a long journey, drivers from the UK are more likely to check that they have a pair of sunglasses in the car (40%) than they are to take extra clothes and blankets (22%) or carry a first aid kit (34%).

Ben Lawson, Vice President of Rental for Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, says: “Even with all the technology at our fingertips, getting lost while driving is still something we all have to deal with. Over the summer, many of us drive abroad on holiday, and in many cases on roads that we are unfamiliar with.  Being prepared in case you do get lost on the road is important, especially as, on average, our research shows that people driving to or during their holidays this summer will be covering more than 500 miles. Closer to home, millions of Brits will be hitting the roads to get away during the bank holiday – and no one wants to start their break off by not being able to find their destination.

“We would advise anyone renting a vehicle to ask the team at the counter for help. If you don’t have a map or your own GPS, companies like Enterprise can rent you one by the day. You can also access our roadside assistance for help in any country, or reach out to one of our local branches if you are lost. In the UK, for example, we have around 450 locations around the country, so we’re never far away and we’re happy to help.”