New CT motorcycle licensing law requires safety course

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Motorcycle Training Bill Signed Into Law East Hartford Resident Pushes For New Legislation
POSTED: 12:50 pm EDT June 22, 2010 UPDATED: 6:57 pm EDT June 22, 2010
facebookdel.icio.usbuzzdiggreddit›› Email›› Print HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new law is signed by Gov. Jodi Rell requiring all people attend a safety training course before obtaining a motorcycle license.
The new legislation was inspired by East Hartford resident Stephanie Pelletier and introduced by Rep. Tim Larson.
Pelletier’s 19-year-old son Nicholas Cohen died in a motorcycle accident in May of 2008. Cohen, a 2007 graduate of East Hartford High School, was pronounced dead at the scene following a crash with a minivan.
Since then, Pelletier said she researched motorcycle safety issues and approached Larson with the idea of the new legislation.
"Stephanie's work on researching this issue is why we had this legislation," Larson said. "She showed incredible bravery coming to the Capitol and sharing her tragedy. It is her courage that paved the way for this new law."
The new bill requires all applicants for a new motorcycle license to successfully complete the Connecticut Rider Education Program, which is administered by the state Department of Transportation, or a motorcycle training course conducted by an organization approved by the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Currently, only 16- and 17-year-olds must take the course.
In a study by the University of Southern California, 4,778 motorcycle fatalities were investigated and it was found that two-thirds of the fatalities were due to a motorcycle rider error. The report also found that 92 percent of motorcycle riders involved in the accidents were self-taught or learned from family or friends.
There are more than 200,000 licensed motorcycle riders in Connecticut.
A federal grant secured by the DOT will cover the cost of running the course through 2011 with additional funding coming from student fees.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1.