Changes Ahead For Motorcycle Instructors and Riders.
Environment Minister Edwin Poots announced on Monday, 29 November 2010 the introduction of legislation to regulate motorcycle instructors.
An Approved Motorcycle Instructor (AMI) Register will start from today and instructors will have a period of six months to register, after which it will be a mandatory requirement for anyone delivering motorcycle training for payment to be an Approved Motorcycle Instructor.
To qualify for registration instructors will be required to undertake and pass a three part qualifying process made up of a: Theory Test (Part 1) Riding Ability & Fitness Test (Part 2) Instructional Ability Test (Part 3)
Commenting on the legalisation the Environment Minister, Edwin Poots said: “The scheme and qualifying process will ensure a satisfactory and consistent standard of instruction for all learner motorcyclists in Northern Ireland. It will bring a level of professionalism to the motorcycle instruction industry and result in motorcycle instructors aligning with the process which exists for car driving instructors.”
Continuing the Minister added: “By building upon this initiative, I will be able to bring forward future changes to training requirements for those wishing to learn to ride mopeds and motorcycles in order to improve road safety and reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.”
Until now anyone could provide instruction for learner motorcyclists, although most motorcycle instructors belonged to a non-statutory Voluntary Motorcycle Instructor’s Register (VMIR). However, following consultation in 2008 there was support for the introduction of a regulated scheme.
Individuals who were on the Voluntary Register will, provided they apply for registration on or before 28 May 2011, not have to undergo the qualifying process and be given ‘acquired rights’, as they have successfully completed a non-statutory Departmental course.
It is also recognised that there may be a number of motorcycle trainers who have long and relevant experience in the industry but who may not be members of the DOE Voluntary Motorcycle Instructor Register.
Whilst these trainers will be required to take and pass the theory test, consideration based on evidence supplied, will be given to awarding exemptions from the Riding Ability & Fitness Test (Part 2) and / or the Instructional Ability Test (Part 3) of the qualifying process.
Further information is available at nidirect.gov.uk/ami
Notes
The AMI register will be similar to the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register in place for learner drivers, but will be aimed specifically at those wishing to teach learner motorcyclists.
To become an approved motorcycle instructor, all three parts of the qualifying process must be completed and passed within a two year period commencing on the date that part one is passed.
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