an instructors guide to delivering compulsory basic training - NIDirect

1. Introduction
CBT is being introduced to help reduce the high number of motorcycle related
incidents on our roads. CBT will better prepare a rider to deal with and make them
aware of the dangers associated with riding a motorcycle or moped. Since CBT was
introduced in Great Britain there have been benefits to riders in terms of road safety.
From 21 February 2011 all new moped and motorcycle riders will have to complete
CBT before being permitted to ride unaccompanied on a public road. Learner
motorcyclists who have provisional motorcycle entitlement prior to the introduction
of CBT will have to complete a CBT course as soon as possible. They have 12 months
from introduction to continue riding a motorcycle without a CBT certificate or to
take the motorcycle test. Full car licence holders will continue to get provisional
motorcycle entitlement on their licence after the introduction of CBT but will not be
able to ride a motorcycle on the road until they have a valid CBT certificate. Riders
wishing to remove a restriction from their CBT certificate i.e. automatic transmission
only, will have to complete a further CBT course.
CBT can only be delivered by a registered Approved Motorcycle Instructor (AMI) who
has been authorised by DVA to deliver the training.
CBT will give your pupils the foundations on which to build a safe motorcycling
career. However, research has shown that CBT type courses may engender
undesirable as well as desirable effects. The main undesirable effect is
overconfidence amongst pupils. In certain situations there is a possibility that some
pupils may leave the course thinking that they are more skilled and that, as a result,
they are better able to deal with dangers on the road. The perception of their skills
is likely to be higher than their real ability. You should therefore openly discuss with
your pupils the problem associated with overconfidence and explain that even
highly developed skills are meaningless if drivers are not motivated to ride according
to their own ability and road conditions.
It is important for your pupils to recognise their own personal limits in terms of their
individual ability. You should encourage them to avoid overconfidence as this is
clearly counterproductive and could lead to more risks being taken, and potentially,
more traffic incidents occurring. Emphasis should be placed on defensive riding
and avoiding overconfidence. You should instil in your pupils the knowledge and
skills to enable them to become safe riders.
With this in mind the CBT course is designed to deal with the “whole” rider as it not
only covers practical riding skills it covers safety aspects and behaviour. The course
moves away from teaching pure practical riding skills to include knowledge, attitude
and behaviour. For instance, when teaching the emergency braking exercises you
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