As we have mentioned over and over again, many accidents involving motorcycles often lead to serious injury or even death. Motorcycles are harder to see in traffic and do not provide a lot of protection when they are involved in a motorcycle accident. Crashes are often caused by the drivers of larger automobiles who fail to notice a motorcycle when they are driving on a roadway or turning a corner, but motorcycle crashes are also often caused by inexperienced cyclists.
Motorcycles require a very different type of driving knowledge than automobiles because they handle differently, have different safety features and require the coordination of your entire body instead of just your hands. California lawmakers have begun taking the suggestions made by safety advocates that one of the best ways to prevent accidents is through education.
The Department of Motor Vehicles announced this past Wednesday that all drivers under the age of 21 who apply for a motorcycle permit will be first required to complete a safety course before they can even practice driving a motorcycle. Cyclists are required to have a motorcycle permit for a period of six months prior to being issued a state class M motorcycle driver license.
The new law was announced by the Department of Motor Vehicles on December 15, 2010, but will not be taken into effect until after the holiday season on January 2, 2011.
Several other new traffic laws will also go into effect on January 2 including changes to the hybrid vehicle sticker “sunset” dates and a new licensing process for firefighters.
Source: News10 “DMV announces changes to traffic laws” Elizabeth Bishop 12/15/10
