MICHIGAN MOTORCYCLE RIDER AND SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM

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MICHIGAN MOTORCYCLE RIDER AND SAFETY EDUCATION
PROGRAM
Ron Wilson , State Coordinator Motorcycle Rider
and Safety Education Program Michigan
Department of State
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• Effective October 2003, the Michigan Legislature
  transferred the administrative functions of the
  Motorcycle Rider and Safety Education Program
  from the Michigan Department of Education to the
  Michigan Department of State.
• Secretary of State Terri Lynn Lands goal is to
  emphasize the importance of training and
  licensing in preventing motorcycle crashes,
  injuries and death.

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Motorcycle Rider and Safety Education Program

• Important component in our states traffic
  safety strategy.
• Offered statewide through 18 public sponsor
  and 11 private enterprises.
• Basic objective is to provide training to those
  riders that are required by law to complete a
  motorcycle safety course to be eligible to
  receive a motorcycle endorsement.

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• A University of Michigan report shows that
  crashes involving motorcycles climbed 20 percent
  from 1997 to 2002. More than 40 percent of those
  incidents involved riders who were not legally
  authorized to operate a motorcycle on Michigan
  roads.
• Applicants less than 18 years of age, or
  applicants 18 years of age and older who have
  failed a skills test two or more times must pass
  a motorcycle safety course before being issuedan
  original motorcycle endorsement.

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Motorcycle Rider and Safety Education Courses

• Offers a Basic Rider Course.
• Performance Based Course, and Experienced Rider
  Course to enhance the skills of beginner riders
  through experienced cyclists.
• Includes classroom and range training to
  explain motorcycle-related laws and to provide
  the ability to operate a motorcycle safely.

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• Public courses are conducted by colleges,
  universities, intermediate or local school
  districts, law enforcement agencies, and other
  governmental agencies. Course sponsors are
  subsidized through grant funding cannot charge
  more than 25.00.

• Courses may also be conducted by private
  business enterprises. Private business
  enterprises determine their own fees.

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• During 2005, the Michigans Motorcycle Safety
  Education Program graduated approximately 10,000
  new motorcycle riders from the nearly 50 training
  sites around the state.

• The Motorcycle Rider and Safety Education
  Program uses the safety standards of the
  Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Adhering to those
  principles promises more comprehensive and
  consistent training.

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Motorcycle 10-Year Trend
The number of motorcycles involved in fatal
crashes has fluctuated over the ten-year period
with a high of 90 in 2001.
Year Endorse-ments All Crashes Fatal Crashes
1995 1996 432,647 430,846 2,651 2,468 80 61
1997 1998 1999 433,405 438,805 442,492 2,465 2,931 2,820 54 64 77
2000 2001 2002 448,693 457,001 465,786 3,180 3,228 3,030 78 90 82
2003 2004 477,423 487,999 3,187 3,276 76 81
Michigan State Police and Michigan Secretary of
State
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2004 Motorcycle Crash Statistics by Age Category
Age Motorcycle Endorsements of Crash Involved Drivers Fatal Crashes Injury Crashes
16-24 13,626 577 13 459
25-65 441,155 2480 67 1828
65 33,218 64 1 54
Michigan State Police and Michigan Department of
State
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Motorcycle Registration Law

• June 23, 2004, PA 163 of 2004 - Legislature
  enacted the new Motorcycle Registration Law.
  Motorcycle owners birth date now equals
  motorcycle registration expiration date.
• February 1, 2005 - Department of State began
  processing original and renewal registrations
  using the owners birth date. Renewals can be
  processed through a Secretary of State Branch
  Office, by mail, phone, or fax.

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Motorcycle Endorsement
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2005/06 Initiatives

• Participate in the Governors Traffic Safety
  Advisory Committees Strategic Highway Safety
  Plan.
• Purchased new training motorcycles to be
  distributedamong the approved training sites.
• Expand statewide motorcycle trainingavailability
  .

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2005/06 Initiatives (continued)

• Recognize a Motorcycle Safety Foundation
  Certified Michigan Coach.
• Create a Motorcycle Database.

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Completed 2005 Initiatives

• Participate in Governors Traffic Safety Advisory
  Commission and created a Motorcycle Action Team.
• Revised the Michigan Motorcycle Operators
  Manual.
• Created a 2005 Private Enterprise Application.
• Promoted May Awareness Month.
• Participated in the 2005 Motorcycle Safety
  Assessment and made recommendations to the final
  report.