Managing Danger vs. Making Money

[Motofool]

"............ Here’s where the ride gets a bit bumpy. Today, the average person is right around 33 times more likely to die driving a motorcycle as when driving a car, mile for mile. If we increase the number of motorcyclists, we also increase the number of morbid crashes and fatalities. What’s more, fatalities are more likely if the people we attract aren’t serious about motorcycling.

17-year-old Peter Pimpleface sees a magazine cover depicting a sport bike shootout, and his head starts spinning with the idea of looking just like one of the macho test riders on the cover. He goes to the big bike show, takes a spin on a bike on rollers, and he’s hooked. He needs a big, noisy, vibrating V-twin. No one tells Peter how dangerous it is, or how expensive, or how much effort it will take to become skilled and traffic smart. But Peter finds out he can take a cheap, easy, fun course that leads instantly to a full license to ride anything. Peter is not really serious about becoming a lifelong motorcyclist; he’s just momentarily hooked by the biker image. It should be no surprise that Peter—and thousands of other newbies and return riders--don’t last long on the street.

Alternative Systems

I’ve been studying the licensing/training system in the UK*, and I think they have the priorities straight. The government writes the rules, and the industry has to work within those rules. In the UK, the knowledge and skills tests are given by the government, not a training site. The intermediate-level practical test includes observed riding in traffic. Training is offered at private driving schools, to help newbies learn enough to pass the government test. Most importantly, a younger rider is limited to a 125cc for a couple of years, so knowledge can be gained on a low performance machine. And the licensing is tiered, so a young newbie must step up through a mid-sized machine, and only later test on a full sized bike.

*United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

Is the UK system better than ours? Define “better.” If “better” means increased industry profits, our system is better. If “better” means a lower fatality rate, the UK system is better than ours. (rate: motorcyclist fatalities per million population):

USA 12.8 and increasing

UK 5.0 and decreasing"

Read full article at: http://www.soundrider.com/current/15...-vs-money.aspx

[Ghostt]

Very interesting article, here in the colonies we haven't figured out how to test for stupidity in any form LOL

We seem to just elect them to public office

But seriously I've always been a firm believer in issuing stages of licences, from novice to expert, not only for motorcycle, but any vehicle licenses.

Like the soccer mom driving the H2 Hummer, or the punk ass kid in the Hellcat, or SS, or GT etc......

We have specific requirements for truck drivers CDL licences etc...... Why not everything else.


On the other hand it would effect the used parts supplies for sure

[cadd]

Awesome read. Since many of us started with 250s, does that mean we fall into the UK's 5% and decreasing number?

[MrAtom]

^Depends on how long you keep it, too. Besides, I think they gotta start with a 125?

[Misti]

Interesting article for sure. As you can guess I'm a huge fan of proper training for riders and for limiting displacement. Australia has a similar graduated system for licensing.

When I got my motorcycle licence all I did was ride through a couple of cones, do a figure 8 and ride around the parking lot and bam, at 24 I had a motorcycle licence and ZERO riding experience. I didn't even take a beginners riding course. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did on the street and I prefer to do most of my riding now on closed courses.

What kind of rider training do you think should be mandatory for getting your license? Of if you were developing a course, what kinds of things would you include?

M

[Sirref]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

Like the soccer mom driving the H2 Hummer, or the punk ass kid in the Hellcat, or SS, or GT etc......

We have specific requirements for truck drivers CDL licences etc...... Why not everything else.


On the other hand it would effect the used parts supplies for sure

Any parent that thinks that's a good idea to get the kid a hellcat deserves the disappointment (hopefully not death or serious injury) that will inevitably follow unless they've taught the kid to respect machines from a young age. If the kid got it for himself, good on him for working his ass off.

I like my used parts, they're everywhere online
I wouldn't mind taking a test on a track to determine if I would be eligible to ride a supersport or superbike on the streets. Then again I know I'd likely pass it at my current skill level. I also wouldn't mind if a racing license gave you some leeway when encountering a leo. Not immunity to speeding as that would be ridiculous but leeway

[allanoue]

What kills more riders? Cars making a left turn. Train how to deal with that.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221612

[cbinker]

Originally Posted by allanoue

What kills more riders? Cars making a left turn. Train how to deal with that.

https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221612

inattentive riders, unskilled riders, egotistical riders...