The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Licensing of motor cyclists

92.—(1) In Article 13 of the Order of 1981 (grant of licences to drive vehicles), in paragraph (3), after sub-paragraph (c), there shall be inserted—

“(d) shall not authorise a person, before he has passed a test of competence to drive, to drive a motor cycle without a sidecar, unless it is a learner motor cycle (as defined in paragraph (5)) or its first use (as defined in regulations) occurred before such date as may be prescribed and the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 125 cubic centimetres.”

(2) For paragraph (5) of that Article there shall be substituted the following paragraphs—

“(5) A learner motor cycle is a motor cycle which either is propelled by electric power or has the following characteristics—

(a) the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 125 cubic centimetres,

(b) the maximum power output of its engine does not exceed 11 kilowatts (as measured in accordance with International Standards Organisation standard 4106-1978.09.01), and

(c) its power the weight ratio does not exceed 100 kilowatts per metric tonne, the power being the maximum power output mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) and the weight that mentioned in paragraph (5A).

(5A) The weight referred to in paragraph (5) is the weight of the motor cycle with a full supply of fuel in its tank, an adequate supply of other liquids needed for its propulsion and no load other than its normal equipment, including loose tools.”

(3) In Article 14 of the Order of 1981 (form of licence)—

(a) in paragraph (3) immediately after the word “drive” there shall be inserted “(a)”; and

(b) at the end of that paragraph there shall be added the following—

“or

(b) unless he has passed a test of competence to drive, a motor cycle without a sidecar which, by virtue of Article 13(3)(d), a provisional licence would not authorise him to drive before he had passed that test.”