Theory Test Oddity.

[Chris]

It's something that has baffled me and my friends for some time and I'm posting here to see if anyone can give me a logical explanation to it.

For examples sakes;

I have a standard driving license (car), I have obviously passed my theory and practical test.
I have held one for 5 years.

I want to learn to ride a motorcycle and get a license for it.
So you do a CBT where they teach you the basics of the bike and then how to ride it and all the safety concerns etc and if you pass, you're free to ride around for 6 months however you please. As long as you have a provisional of course.

To get a full license you need to re-do your theory (remember, I hold a driving license) (and pay for this test!) as well as do you practical test, the latter I agree with.

However this stumps me, I do understand the theory will throw in questions relating to motorcycles but this could be asked whilst doing your practical.

Not only that, you only  have to attempt it so if you fail you're allowed to continue and ride home on the road with the rest of us who have passed.

To add to the failure, you don't even get told what question you got wrong so you cannot improve or find out the answer, other than study again and "assume" you didn't miss it out. Are they afraid that if they tell us we might *GASP* know the answer?!

Oh and let's not forget if you fail your theory, they still let you drive around in your car.
By their ways of doing things that doesn't even make sense!

Is it simply a way to make money or is this more of the old rules coming into play, or couldn't they be bothered to put those who know the rules of the road and have driven for years into a class where we don't have to pay to take the same test again?

I try to think of a logical reason to this, I understand if you don't hold any type of license but it really doesn't make sense that you can fail and continue to be in command of a motorised vehicle.



PS.

I don't hold a motorcycle license and I'm not trying for one.
But most of my friends and my brother do/have and they all think the same thing.

We must be missing something...

[newmac]

I would say it's simply a way to make money.
When you look into it there's a lot of strange rules, one related one is you could have taken and passed your moped licence 20 or 30 years ago, have 20 or 30 years riding experience yet if you want to ride a 125 you have to take your CBT.

[Fritz]

I cannot understand why Driving Licences/Passports have to be renewed every so often, other than to make money.

[boatyboy]

When spinless politicians of the old school voted in users pays tax ( after us all being taxed anyway ) we all became managed, not served. Sorry to be so forthright, but no politician has bothered to get figures on why the traffic office invent new systems to take money off us, and why do they fail so many driving and scooter tests.

They have the power, just muppets.

Work it out people.

Boatyboy.

[Ashley]

It's robbery.  The end product does not justify the cost.  They're not selling freedom - they're taking advantage of the situation whereby they can separate a part of the island with their money in order to make up for their own shortfalls in other areas. 

I've posted similarly in a thread of my own when I was confronted by this complete piss take myself.

I totally agree with all the processes involved with people starting out on the roads etc.  There should some consideration afforded for those who have already spent many many miles on the road all ready. 

The CBT is a good case in point.  Awesome for kids who've probably not even done their cycling proficiency. I've done the CBT and saw two clear cut cases where, had they been alone on the road, they may have been killed.  One lad went the wrong way around the round about ffs.  He didn't pass - he was given some time to work out what round abouts were all about and told to have another go at a later date.  Quite how you can get to 16 and not noticed the traffic flow one o those things is beyond me but that's  another story.

Where was I?

Right. I had to do the CBT and theory test even though I'd been driving for 10 years and had held several (about 5) provisional licenses for bikes over the years.  It could have been clear to any sane person that I know my way around a vehicle and the roads. A pedant would say that I should have passed years ago - that's not the point.

So now I've passed my bike test on a 125, which clearly does more than 40 miles an hour, probably 100 with the wind behind it, I've only had 80 so far, I'll have to do another CBT on a BIG bike that will probably do over 40, maybe 150+ MPH.  Ok, there's a difference there but it's not necessarily enough of a difference that I should have to ride my 125 for a whole bloody year, (presumably so I can save up for the next state sanctioned mugging) before I can start again on a learner plate for a big bike.  I could buy a 200cc bike and I'd still have to do the next phase, I could get a 1900cc VMAX, almost 10 times the engine and it's the same story. 

There's no car test for Fiestas like there's no test for Bugatti Verons.  There's one test. Why? Because it would be too obvious that it was a piss take, that's why.

All we need now is someone from the states to get a cracking trade in on a old car at a large motor trader, a few winks and handshakes will be exchanged and before you know it we'll all be getting MOT'd every year and Swiss Tony will be the number one MOT man on the island.  Everyone's a winner, that'll be 100 quid plus tax love.

[Chris]

That's another thing I don't get, being limited to a 125 for a whole year.
You're right about the car, nobody stops you getting a more powerful car right away.

I went from my first car, a 1.3l Astra to a v8 in 3months (after obtaining a license).
Nope, didn't have to drive something with a low engine capacity for a year.

I'd say cars are more dangerous as well in an accident, In most cases I'd prefer a motorcycle would hit me than any other vehicle if forced to choose. Unless they come through the window, eek!

Still, it's not like you can't hit 70/80 or more in your 300quid banger.
I know I can if I wanted to.

They could say that you should get used to a smaller bike first, learn to handle it.
Yet they don't mind me going from a FWD 60 odd horsepower car to a RWD 270hp car

I wish someone would do something about the motorcycle thing, it's ridiculous.
They talk about safety but don't tell you if you get things wrong in a test, should be illegal.
Bunch of muppets running things, by no means do I consider myself to be that smart but all it takes is an iota of logic to fix these things!!

Money > *?

I thought I should disclaim that by no means am I saying the people who work there are muppets, it's the decision makers and bigwigs up there I'm angry with. The employees just have to enforce the rules in their job role of course.

Although I had problems registering by car because it's a classic American and they said I needed some proof trail of ownership which I did have but apparently not enough info.

I had to make calls/emails to people, previous owners of the car, workshops, vehicle standards in America, visit websites, provide proof of how transfer are made internationally before they considered registering my car.

That's right, they wouldn't, until I did their job for them to prove It should be registered.
They also tried to charge me a £250-300 ish inspection fee when it should have only been ...well it's been months now, £70 I think.

I learned in the past year you get nowhere unless you push push push and argue yourself blue and purple.

[Dylan]

That's nothing!
 I had a heavy m/c license issued by The Parroisse de St Helier. Several times I presented it to St Aubin's PArish hall to get it added to my driving license. several times it came back without the amendment. Years later, I try again and was told that I have to take a test again as there was a moratorium on driving licenses for 5 years after which if you hadn't declared it you were stuffed. I was.
When I was 17, I was lucky enough to take most of a PPL (private Pilot's license) if france (in french) which I never completed - ran out of funds. At 52 I went to the Aero Club, and asked if I could continue, waving a ribbon typed letter from the CAA granting me my French Hours. Here's the rub! The CAA basically said I could have done 39 hours in a pathfinder during the war and only had 1 more hour to pass, as long as I did the exams. But here in fairy dairy land, I am not good enough to ride a motorcycle for which I did pass a test!

Pillocks!

[rogueelement]

What does David Bowie have to say on the subject?
"Ground control to Major Tom"

[White Knight]

You must have driven to the test centre with "L" plates and a person who has held a car license for a least 1 year. So if you fail you drive back the same way. Regarding the bike you must have ridden there on your provisional license which allows you to ride with a  pillion passenger who again holds a full car or bike license.

[shaun the sheep]

[quote author=White Knight link=topic=1948.msg30666#msg30666 date= Regarding the bike you must have ridden there on your provisional license which allows you to ride with a  pillion passenger who again holds a full car or bike license.
[/quote]


Speaking to D.V.S. apparently a Leaner can not take anyone on the back of the bike,
even with a full licence,
hope this helps.

[ole razzy]

Guess it would be pretty dangerous if he was leaning too far.

[mpwpj]

...The CAA basically said I could have done 39 hours in a pathfinder during the war and only had 1 more hour to pass, as long as I did the exams. But here in fairy dairy land, I am not good enough to ride a motorcycle for which I did pass a test!

Pillocks!

Are you saying the CAA are pillocks for allowing somebody with virtually no practical relevant experience fly an aircraft? If so then I heartily agree.

I'm a car driver of many years, and I'd like to switch to a far more economic (and greener) scooter; but the hoops DVS want me to jump through put me off.  I'll most likely book a direct access course in the UK at some point and go from nothing to a full large bike license in less than a week.

[Chris]

I'll most likely book a direct access course in the UK at some point and go from nothing to a full large bike license in less than a week.

Can we actually do this and transfer it to a Jersey License?
Interested if so, please tell me more, PM me if it works here, thanks!

[mpwpj]

Can we actually do this and transfer it to a Jersey License?
Interested if so, please tell me more, PM me if it works here, thanks!

Strictly speaking you'll need to have some sort of connection to an address in the UK, and it ain't cheap.

I, for example, would decide to move to the UK and move in with my girlfriend; I'd apply for a provisional licence, book my course with one of the providers and gain my licence. Then, unfortunately, life in the UK might not be for me, so I'll return to Jersey with my full licence, at some point exchanging it for a local one.

[Chris]

Oh I see, shame that.
I guess I'll just pass on my brothers bike and forget about it for a year