Rider Education Opinion
Some states have mandated that anyone wanting to obtain a motorcycle endorsement on their license must pass a motorcycle safety course. This brings up many issues. I will be blogging on this subject in the next few days.
I want to ask you, whether your ride a motorcycle or not, do you agree that a rider safety course should be mandatory? Leave it in comments!
Thanks for your support!
Steve and the MC Nation
Tags: mandatory rider training
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
I will start this off here. I am not against mandatory training but believe that the state needs to provide some, or all, of the funding to insure that the resources are there to do it.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 am
I don’t like the government telling me what to do. But I learned a ton at my safety training. And I wish every rider would learn the same things.
So, maybe not mandatory but link it to something that makes it worthwhile for the rider. Like significantly lower insurance rates. Or discounted/free licensing and registration for a year.
May 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I think that you have made a very good point. Do not mandate the training but provide plenty of incentive for the rider to go get it. Discounted insurance rates would be a great incentive if we could get all of them to partner with the program. I am against government interference in almost anything we do, but for some reason, I am not as strong in my opinion against this.
Your points make a lot of sense and anyone that we can get into training is just a plus for the MC Nation as a whole. Educated riders = less accidents = less insurance costs for all riders.
Thanks again Jason.
Steve and the MC Nation
May 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I think Jason has the right idea. In Canada, the safety course does get you an insurance discount. A large one. After taking the course, the insurance companies will give you a five star rating. It is the same as if you where riding clam free for five years.
But I cannot see mandatory courses for a few legal reasons. As a safety instructor I would not work any course that was mandatory to get your license. If it is something you HAVE TO DO, and you do it, then get your self killed after the fact, then the instructor, course facilitator, and the Ministry of transportation of Ontario in my case, (MTO is like the U.S. DMV) would all be libel and open to law suites.
The fact that the course is voluntary and the person taking has a choice, means they also give up their right to take legal action against the course providers. (well they do not give up their right, but the case would have to take on a different, and harder path to prove fault.)
It is bad enough right now on how far I am hanging my butt out there, each time I teach a group of students. By making it mandatory, you are giving the public that take the course a simple and direct path to sue you, your family, and anyone else that had anything to do with the course.
It’s just the world we live in.
May 14th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I’d say mandatory. I believe that’s how PA does it, and they subsidize the cost. If optional, then offer the insurance discount. anything to get some training in.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I’m too much of a newb to really say whether or not a state should make a rider education course mandatory, but I can provide some input. I just passed NJ’s Basic Rider Course earlier today, and I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to attend. My boyfriend took the course many years ago, and now that I’ve gotten tired of riding b!tch, I decided to take the first step and learn some skills.
Granted, I still have a lot of work and practice ahead of me in order to be anything resembling a “good rider,” but the course definitely has encouraged me to continue building on the skills I learned and to be diligent about practicing and riding safe, when I do ride.
The program in Jersey is 100% free, and although you have to register about 2 months in advance, I don’t get why more people wouldn’t take the course, as you learn some invaluable things there. Not even 20 minutes after I left the course and got on the highway in my Jeep, three guys on sport bikes speed by (and I was going 75) on the Garden State Parkway, wearing shorts, t shirts, and sneakers. They then proceeded to cut me off and weave in between the rest of the traffic on the road. Makes me wish they took the course.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Chickpea,
Congrats on your passing of the Basic Rider Course. As an instructor I respect anyone that takes the time to try and learn how to be a safer rider. As I am sure that you were told, the class provided you with the tools to continue to practice to become safer on the road. It is up to you to take those tools and make yourself as safe as possible.
I am sure that you will as you seem very safety oriented and enthusiastic of what you just learned. I congratulate you again and I hope that you put in many safe, enjoyable miles for years to come. Thank you for reading the MC Nation and for taking the time to leave us a comment.
Steve