The transport act of 1981 introduced various measures intended to reduce the high accident rate among motorcyclists. The riding test was extended, the duration of a motorcycle provisional licence was limited to two years and the maximum engine size of motorcycles that learners may ride was reduced to 125 cc. The report shows that an immediate consequence was a reduction of over one half in the number of motorcyclists passing the riding test. The amount of motorcycling has fallen sharply (although the fall could be due to other factors as well) and the numbers of motorcycling accidents and casualties have fallen in consequence. The restriction on engine size was immediately effective, reducing casualties among learner motorcyclists by about one quarter. (Author/publisher)
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