Lake of the Ozarks, Mo - Highway Patrol alters testing for motorcycle license

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http://www.lakenewsonline.com/news/x1836044273/Highway-Patrol-alters-testing-for-motorcycle-license
Highway Patrol alters testing for motorcycle license


By Rance Burger lakenewsonline.com Posted Sep 26, 2011 @ 07:17 AM
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. — Rookie riders who get a motorcycle endorsement on their Missouri driver's licenses will have a slightly different road to take than the bikers who came before them. The Missouri State Highway Patrol implemented some changes to its motorcycle rider testing program on Sept. 1, and training courses may also be affected. The national Motorcycle Safety Foundation suggested new tests for aspiring riders trying for a license. Lake Career and Technical Center in Camdenton serves as one of 26 Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program training sites. New riders who take the class spend a weekend doing classroom training and skill training on a closed course. "There is a series of exercises they complete and do. they start with clutch control— very basic, and work their way up to advanced skills starting and braking and S-curves," LCTC site coordinator Joe Schwandt explained. Students who complete the course receive a card they take to their license testing site that allows them to waive the on-motorcycle portion of the license test. However, Schwandt says some students fail the safety course. Missouri Motorcycle Safety Program instructors take their work seriously, and feel obligated to only sign off on students they believe are ready to ride safely. Seeing other riders make mistakes regarding safety made LCTC's motorcycle rider coach David Abrams get involved in teaching riders. "I was very discouraged by the lack of motorcycle skills and safety I witnessed when attending rallies or charity rides. It seemed like every year there were several serious accidents whenever groups got together to ride in large numbers," Abrams said. The Highway Patrol recommended a new "swerve test" procedure. Testing standards will also accommodate the modern designs of newer motorcycles, and there are new standards for three-wheel motorcycles. "Instructors will probably do an update, I would imagine, and they may make changes," Schwandt said. "Our mission of traffic safety includes all vehicles," said Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Ron Replogle. "It is our goal to reduce motorcycle crashes and fatalities through an updated, more comprehensive testing standard. I am sure the motoring public will benefit from this new testing program.”