RPMT - White Elephant facing extinction?
Written by Mike Abbott Tuesday, 18 January 2011 13:28
Where is the Register of Post-Test Motorcycle Trainers going?
The number of trainers is dropping - now below 300, although RoSPA are allegedly and belatedly having their Instructor's Course DSA approved, having previously not bothered, which could be a turning point if true.
The DSA still intend to make registration on the RPMT compulsory, but say they will undertake a further round of consultation before they do. Will this ever happen? What would happen if they did? Where would it leave the IAM?
I have recently spoken to a few others on the register and the result was very mixed, but on balance it seems not to be worthwhile and many look like leaving when their 4-year registration period ends in the neat future. It also looks like very few are joining after the initial number who joined with 'Grandfather Rights'. The cost of just the RPMT tests and 4 years registration is circa £500, and the training courses are £2,000 plus expenses, which is not cheap.
One of the problems is that the is no direct representation for RPMT Trainers so they have no collective voice. Currently there is an initiative to link with BikeSafe to track riders who do take additional training after a BikeSafe assessment. There are no stats as to whether advanced training actually makes for safer riders, although feedback from Lincs BikeSafe and from a similar scheme in Cincinnatti would indicate it does, as no riders have subsequently found to have had a serious accident (although this is far from conclusive).
The DSA is also strapped for funds this year and so little promotion of the Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) is likely.
So is it just another Government Scheme well intentioned but bound to fail? Was it just unwelcomed interference for no purpose? Is it always going to be that anyone can act as an Advanced Motorcycle Trainer, whether or not they have had any advanced instructor training, or even any advanced rider training?
I have tried to contact as many of my fellow RPMT Trainers and have an exclusive RPMT Group set up on Facebook recently, to see if there is any interest in discussing the situation, to see if anything can be done, or whether we can help ourselves.
Mike Abbott, Advanced Rider Coaching
The number of trainers is dropping - now below 300, although RoSPA are allegedly and belatedly having their Instructor's Course DSA approved, having previously not bothered, which could be a turning point if true.
The DSA still intend to make registration on the RPMT compulsory, but say they will undertake a further round of consultation before they do. Will this ever happen? What would happen if they did? Where would it leave the IAM?
I have recently spoken to a few others on the register and the result was very mixed, but on balance it seems not to be worthwhile and many look like leaving when their 4-year registration period ends in the neat future. It also looks like very few are joining after the initial number who joined with 'Grandfather Rights'. The cost of just the RPMT tests and 4 years registration is circa £500, and the training courses are £2,000 plus expenses, which is not cheap.
One of the problems is that the is no direct representation for RPMT Trainers so they have no collective voice. Currently there is an initiative to link with BikeSafe to track riders who do take additional training after a BikeSafe assessment. There are no stats as to whether advanced training actually makes for safer riders, although feedback from Lincs BikeSafe and from a similar scheme in Cincinnatti would indicate it does, as no riders have subsequently found to have had a serious accident (although this is far from conclusive).
The DSA is also strapped for funds this year and so little promotion of the Enhanced Rider Scheme (ERS) is likely.
So is it just another Government Scheme well intentioned but bound to fail? Was it just unwelcomed interference for no purpose? Is it always going to be that anyone can act as an Advanced Motorcycle Trainer, whether or not they have had any advanced instructor training, or even any advanced rider training?
I have tried to contact as many of my fellow RPMT Trainers and have an exclusive RPMT Group set up on Facebook recently, to see if there is any interest in discussing the situation, to see if anything can be done, or whether we can help ourselves.
Mike Abbott, Advanced Rider Coaching
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