Every new motorcyclist is excited to be on the road and to ride. Taking a motorcycle safety course insures the excitement continues.
Why a Motorcycle Safety Course is Necessary?
A motorcycle safety course is necessary so that a rider may learn about the machine from a safety standpoint. This means understanding basics about how the machine works and how the rider must interact during actual riding. A two and a half day course only starts the basics but should lay the foundation to encourage a rider to investigate their motorcycle further and to understand the physical restraints of the bike and the rider interaction with the bike during riding. This includes accelerating, breaking, stopping and turning. If the basics are learned then its easier to practice good habits as riding depth increases. The basics that are taught in the basic motorcycle safety course per the Motorcycle Safety Foundation is as follows:
- Introduction to motorcycling
- Protective gear / What to wear
- Controls such as the clutch and brakes
- Pre-ride inspection of your motorcycle
- Preparing to ride your motorcycle on the class range
- Street strategies to avoid trouble and stay safe
- Driving and riding impairments such as use of alcohol and drugs
- How to maneuver the motorcycle
- Avoiding obstacles
- Lane changes
- Passing
- Riding at night
- Collision avoidance skills
- Swerving
- Special situations
- Carrying a passenger or cargo
- Dealing with tire failure
- Dealing with animals
- And other topics, all included to increase motorcycle riding enjoyment and safety.
The other two obvious reasons to take a safety course is to get a break on insurance and to substitute the rider test for the state exam.
Motorcycle Insurance Breaks for Safety Course Participants
Insurance companies such as Geico, Progressive, Foremost, State Farm and others give discounted rates to riders who have participated in a safety course. Statistically, its been shown that riders with a safety course are in less altercations than those that do not take a course. Savings of three to five percent can provide some incentive for buying more safety equipment. Safety classes also encourage riders to wear helmets regardless of state laws. Two thirds of all fatalities in states that do not require a helmet to be worn might have been prevented if a helmet was worn.
Motorcycle Safety Course Participants Get Operation Tests Waived on State Exams
Over twenty states provide waivers for basic rider safety. This means that if a person takes the basic rider safety course then they do not have to take an operational test with the state. Most state tests are more difficult than the MSF test but with the same requirements. Difficulties are related to the motorcycle. Beginning riders can handle taking an operator course with the smaller CC motorcycles that the safety courses use as opposed to riding a full dressed bike or a sport bike in the state exam. Also, its easier to complete the course after practicing for two days as opposed to taking it with a state agency. However, it is advised to take the advanced safety course with a personal motorcycle after learning the basics.
To find out more about motorcycle safety, visit the United States Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website at "www.msff-usa.org". Visit the Snell Foundation website at "www.smf.org" to find out the differences between Snell and DOT helmet certifications. Most safety riding courses are held at local junior colleges.
Tobey Strauch - I graduated from Iowa State University with a Masters in Industrial Systems Engineering. I have traveled around the world to England, ...
