Little by little, some more details are becoming known about what the course will be that the DGT will be required to carry out so that drivers with a B license, with at least three years of experience, can ride motorcycles of up to 125 cc. The objective of this training is to improve road safety, since motorcyclists are the group that continues to register an increase in the number of deaths in traffic accidents. In this way, we want car drivers who wish to get behind the handlebars of a motorcycle to have specific prior knowledge, because driving a car is not the same as driving a motorcycle.
The general director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, has explained that the mandatory course will last about seven hours, three of which will correspond to theory, while the other four will be allocated to the practical part. This is what he said during his speech at the Road Safety Commission of the Congress of Deputies that was held yesterday.
This measure, which was announced by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska in early 2024, is already implemented in other countries, such as France. In fact, the characteristics of the training will be entirely imported from the neighboring country, from which the option of being able to drive 125 cc motorcycles with the B permit was also copied.
The course will be mandatory for those who have had a driving license for three years from the publication of the standard, so it will not have retroactive effects for other drivers. The forecast is that it will begin to be implemented at the end of this year, although it is possible that, in the end, it will be delayed a little but will be done within this legislature.
Thinking about improving road safety for motorcyclists, the Government has also announced other new developments, such as introducing changes in the practical exam for the A license, which allows driving any vehicle included within category A: A2 (motorcycles with a maximum power of 35 kW -slightly less than 47 HP-), A1 (motorcycles with a maximum displacement of 125 cm³ and maximum power of 11 kW -slightly less than 15 HP-) and AM (two or three-wheeled mopeds and light quadricycles).
The intention is to give more weight to driving tests in open road traffic than to closed circuit tests, where a series of maneuvers are performed (zigzag driving, emergency braking, avoiding obstacles…). This is intended to better assess the applicant in a real environment.
Also on the table is banning the use of open-face helmets, jet type, for intercity trips and mandating the wearing of gloves to protect hands in the event of an accident. Likewise, the DGT wants to promote the use of airbags for motorists because it represents a great leap to improve their safety. Navarro predicts that “little by little it will be consolidated and in the end we will see simple airbag vests in the city that people with scooters will wear.”
