A contentious proposal from the Ministry of Transport mandating training for all motorcycle operators has ignited vigorous public debate. Government authorities maintain that this initiative will significantly enhance road safety and prevent fatalities. However, motorcycle-dependent communities perceive it as an additional financial strain.
The existing licensing protocol, as detailed by Kevan Jenkins, Traffic Department Manager, requires applicants to be over seventeen years old. The process involves obtaining a learner’s permit for $30, which necessitates a completed application form, medical certification from a physician, two passport-sized photographs, and valid proof of address and identification documents. This permit remains valid for three months, allowing a two-week preparation period for the written examination. Following successful completion, another two-week window is provided for the practical riding assessment. The final motorcycle license is issued upon payment of a $90 fee.
Michael Graham, proprietor of Graham’s Runman Services and a delivery rider, offers an alternative perspective. He contends that road accidents frequently result from other motorists’ failure to respect motorcyclists’ right of way. While acknowledging the inevitability of the new regulations, Graham expresses skepticism about their financial practicality. The proposed $300 training fee, he argues, poses a substantial economic challenge for professional riders who may view the certification as merely bureaucratic rather than genuinely beneficial for safety improvement.