Changes in Motorcycle licensing in NC

OFF THE WIRE
http://www2.hickoryrecord.com/news/2010/nov/07/state-combat-rising-motorcycle-deaths-ar-516965 State to combat rising motorcycle deaths Safety course to be mandatory for teens Credit: ROBERT C. REED / RECORD Motorcycle instructor Mary Miller checks her mirrors on her motorcycle before leaving Catawba Valley Community College. Motorcycle deaths are down 16 percent across the country, but they're up 20 percent in North Carolina.
By Richard Gould Published: November 07, 2010 » 5 Comments | Post a Comment vote nowBuzz up! Statistically, the roads are safer for just about everyone this year, except North Carolinian motorcyclists.
Nationwide, motorcycle deaths were down 15 percent last year. This year, vehicle deaths in North Carolina are down from 704 to 658, or 6.5 percent.
However, there have been 20 percent more motorcycle deaths this year compared to this time last year. As of Sept. 9, there had been 78 motorcycle fatalities since Jan. 1 compared to 65 at that time last year, according to the Highway Patrol Fatal Slip report.
There were 82 motorcycle deaths in the state during 2009.
“Motorcycles, scooters, mopeds – these are the most vulnerable motorized vehicles on the highways today and, in North Carolina, we have been unable to regulate licensing in a way that makes users operate safely,” said David E. Parsons, CEO and president of AAA Carolinas.
Parsons is referring to the loophole in the state’s motorcycle laws that grants a novice driver an 18-month provisional license if the rider passes a vision test, highway sign test and a written motorcycle knowledge test. There is no requirement for a rider to take a safety course or a road test, and the permit can be renewed indefinitely, according to DMV officials.
AAA thinks motorcycle crashes, which include mopeds and scooters, are due to inexperienced drivers and the lack of required proper safety training.
“Mandated safety education and road tests should be required for anyone operating a motorized vehicle, especially a two-wheeler, on public streets,” Parsons said.
The state agrees and will require anyone under 18 who applies to get a motorcycle learner’s permit or a driver license with a motorcycle endorsement to pass a course taught by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or the N.C. Motorcycle Safety Education Program as of Jan. 1.
It’s also closing the provisional license loophole.
On Jan. 1 the duration of provisional licenses will drop from 18 months to 12 months. After that, riders will be allowed just one six-month extension rather than the unlimited 18-month extensions currently allowed.
Chris O’Connor, manager of the Blue Ridge Harley-Davidson/Buell dealership, supports the new course requirement for young riders. “There’s nobody teaching them safety,” he said.
Motorcycle safety instructor Mary Miller sees some value to the new state law requiring a safety course for riders under the age of 18, but wonders if it’s targeting the group at greatest risk. In 2008, the highest number of motorcycle fatalities occurred for riders from the ages of 20 to 24, 35 to 39 and 50 to 54 years old.
Miller said some people take the course because their insurance companies offer discounts to those who have undergone safety training. Others take the course to develop their riding skills.
While her two-day safety course can’t possibly cover every contingency, she says the skills she instills do help her riders stay safe.
“I think it decreases their statistical likelihood of being involved in an accident or fatality,” she said. “If I were inexperienced, I would take a safety course before I would buy a bike.”
Though not a licensed instructor, O’Connor has ridden for decades, and he’s passed along what he’s learned over the years to his friends and family members. He focuses on developing their confidence and understanding what the machine can do.
“I don’t want you stupid – I want you confident,” he said. “A motorcycle can out-accelerate and out-brake any car.”
His advice for new riders: “You have to be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for all the idiots that don’t see you – because they won’t, or if they see you, they don’t notice you.”
Awareness and focus are key to Miller’s safety courses as well.
She tells her students: “Motorcycling is a skill of the mind,” and explains that riding to clear one’s head or lighten one’s mood is a bad idea.
She teaches her students to be hyper-vigilant and that can be tough to do if they are physically or emotionally distracted.
Although she’s been riding most of her life, she doesn’t know it all.
“Every time I get on a bike, I learn something,” she said. “I pretend that I’m invisible. I ride to be predictable. I ride so people can respond to my position in traffic. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
R.J. Byers, 70, of Valdese has been riding motorcycles for about 50 years. Though he’s only had two motorcycle accidents in all that time, he’s forbidden his daughter from taking up his hobby.
“People don’t pay attention. They’ll pull out in front of you on these side roads. Anytime there’s an intersection, get ready,” he said. “People on the interstate, they can’t stand to be behind a motorcycle, and they’ll do anything to pass you. Once they do, they’ll slow back down.”
Byers is in favor of the new laws requiring safety courses for teen riders and said he would recommend them to new riders.
“He (any new rider) needs to take these courses and learn to ride before he ever gets out on the street,” Byers said.
Many new riders are doing exactly that.
Nine riders spent a recent Sunday morning on two wheels creeping through a series of tight turns in the parking lot of Mitchell Community College in Statesville.
They rode Suzukis, Yamahas, Hondas and Kawasaki Eliminators.
As the day wore on, the students increased their speed and rode ever more challenging courses.
It was the first time Charlotte police officer Gavin Jackson had ever ridden a motorcycle.
“Everyone I know who has ever ridden motorcycles recommended that I take this course,” he said.
He said he gives a fair number of tickets to speeding motorcycles. Invariably, the driver is someone who’s borrowing their friend’s motorcycle and doesn’t have a license.
“For safety – just to make sure I learn the right way to ride a motorcycle properly,” said novice rider Scott Whitaker of Mocksville. “My family will be moving to Sudan where all they ride is motorcycles, and I want to be safe.”
He’s moving to Africa to work as a missionary with Global Outreach International.
Motorcycle safety instructor Kim Austin at MCC in Statesville said, “Go on, you’re better than you think your are.”
The students were taught to slow down before beginning their turn then increase speed as they navigate a curve, a technique called “rolling on.” The goal is to increase stability and control.
“Roll on, roll on. Nice! That was a good turn,” said motorcycle safety instructor Scott Hines as he coached his students. “It looked like you had fun on that one.”
“I wanted a bike since I was 16. My dad had one. I’ve been on the back of a bike since I was 10,” said Wendy Bowen of Statesville. “I wanted to learn to ride the right way.”
Said Melissa Lucas of Charlotte, “Riding a motorcycle, you don’t have the same type of protection you have in an automobile.”
“I wanted to learn the right way to ride a motorcycle,” said Robin Bost of Taylorsville.
STATISTICS:
2009 Motorcycle fatalities by state, according to a study issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association Virginia: 77 in 2009, 86 in 2008 (registered motorcyclists in 2008: 82,969) South Carolina: 108 in 2009, 123 in 2008 (registered motorcyclists in 2008: 103,051) North Carolina: 155 in 2009, 169 in 2008 (registered motorcyclists in 2008: 121,959) The total licensed motorcyclists in 2009 is unavailable.
WHAT ABOUT MOPEDS?
You must be age 16 or older to operate a moped on North Carolina highways or public vehicular areas.
A driver license is not required, and the moped does not have to be registered, inspected or covered by liability insurance. A motorcycle safety helmet is required by law when operating a moped on North Carolina highways.
A moped cannot have a motor of more than 50 cubic centimeters, an external shifting device or have the capability of exceeding 30 miles per hour on a level surface.
The news report left some details out and comes across as inaccurate to anyone who knows what is really going on.

UPDATE FROM NC BY JAN
This is not exactly going to make classes mandatory for teens. Actually, a 16 1/2 year older could get a learners permit, and at age 17 1/2 renew it for six more months. Then, at 18 year old, there is no longer a mandate! The only motorcyclists that will be forced to take a class are those who got an LP between 16 and 16 1/2 yo. So, yes, our lawmakers are not only safety nannies, but they are also dumber than dirt. The Republicans just wanted a checkmark in their win column - this was handed-down legislation from a democrat (Tony Rand) who tried for a few years to get a similar bill passed. The whole reason for this is to kiss the butt of the the commandants of Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune.

Now that mandatory training has a foot in the door, expect they'll try to push the age to 21 or make it mandatory for all who are applying for a license.

In NC, the only restriction different for a person on an LP and a person with a license is that they cannot carry passengers. There is no sunset restriction on LP's as there is in MA and some other states. I would not have minded sunset restrictions on LP's for ALL vehicles, because then there would not have been any singling out of motorcyclists, and it would have been a much better way to accomplish their objectives. As it is, people on LP's are not learning during the daytime only, and those soldiers and marines who only have LP's are riding their bikes to the local bars at night. Making a sunset LP restriction would have provided the necessary incentive for people to get their license rather than perpetually renew their LP.

Here is an article I wrote about my attempts to get the legislators to stop the bill.
http://nchome.us/node/15

I wish the article had a place for people to respond to.

I find this interesting: "Motorcycle deaths are down 16 percent across the country, but they're up 20 percent in North Carolina." We told them all those FMVSS 218 compliant helmets that were forced onto people in 2008 were dangerous. The increased casualties are just being noticed now because in 2008 there were less automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles on the roads due to the gas prices skyrocketing. In 2008, there was a small spike in the overall number of reported motorcycle accidents, probably due to lots of beginners getting into low speed crashes while learning to ride the extremely fuel efficient, low-powered mopeds or scooters to combat the gas prices.

jan