Motorcycle Swerve test in the news.....

[R1Geezer]

Well It's been out 3 weeks and already there have been accidents. As a biker I think it is too much to expect novice riders to resist the urge to use the brake on this and hence the crashes. Ok everyone has to learn but I think we all get better with experience and further training. Is this another case of the authorities ignoring the experts? Should they rethink this? Perhaps they should concetrate on car drivers' lack or observation, what do we think people?

[flip_flop]

I have ridden bikes regularly for 15 years and I certainly think this is too much to ask of a novice rider - the first thing that crossed my mind about the swerve test was what if it is wet?

Swerving in the dry is one thing, but swerving in the wet.......even as an experienced rider I'm not entirely sure I could swerve in the wet at any speed without dropping it!

[Oneeyedvic]

I have also had a licence for the last 18 years and was reading this article on the BBC website earlier.

Personally I think it is a good idea and very much needed. If you can't do this, then you really need to double think whether you should be out on a bike at all.

This is done in a controlled environment.

Just imagine if it was a kid that you had to swerve around, but couldn't because it was wet and you weren't experienced enough. That is unfortunately the grim reality of the situation.

If you can't exercise full control of your bike in 'test' conditions, then you really have no place on the road.

Yes, accidents will happen - but the better rider you are, the less chance that something will happen.

I hope that the car test becomes 'more difficult to' - there are far too many people on the roads dying because they don't have the experience or control over their vehicles - and they are putting other peoples lives at risk as well

[Oneeyedvic]

And why should a biker die swerving a kid that should not be there, I'm afraid as a driver, cyclist or biker I'll take whatever action gives ME the best outcome not the obstacle.

So as a driver, given the option of a crash and damaging your car, or ploughing into a kid, you would rather kill a kid.

Nice.

[Oneeyedvic]

Given the option of possibly killing myself or some other idiot in the road, yes they'd have to have it.

Not suggesting killing yourself - I am talking about damaging your vehicle or taking a life.

If you crash into a brick wall at 40mph in a car, you will almost certainly survive. If you hit a child at that speed they will probably not.

Still, if you care more about your motor than other people, it is no wonder that we live in such a selfish society.