Vol. 428 No. 6
119 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether motor cyclists are a vulnerable group in terms of road safety; if he will introduce a compulsory motor cycle tuition course to help improve road safety and education to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Road accident statistics for 1991 show that the accident rate for motor cyclists is over 12 times the rate for cars. The Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations, 1989 to 1993, restrict the granting of driving licences for high-powered motorcycles to persons who are either 25 years of age or over, or who have had a full driving licence for lower-powered cycles for at least two years. This restriction was introduced as a road safety measure.
A new edition of the Rules of the Road, published last year, sets out the legal position concerning motorcyclists and advises on good road user behaviour. The National Safety Council, which operates under the aegis of my Department, has responsibility for road safety promotion generally and publishes a booklet “This is Your Bike” which deals among other things, with motorcycle safety and good road behaviour. Compulsory motorcycle training is not a requirement of the EC Directive on the driving licence, and I have no proposals to introduce it here.
