New Law for Teen Bikers
August 12, 2010
A new Massachusetts law regarding motorcycle safety courses will now require teenage motorcyclists (ages 16 – 18) to take safety course before applying for a junior operator’s license.
Mass. Governor Deval Patrick has signed the new legislation also known as “Ryan’s Bill” in honor of Ryan Orcutt, a 16-year-old Brockton teen who died in a motorcycle crash last year. The new legislation was backed by the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.
The motorcycle association cited statistics from the Motorcycle Rider Education Program, saying that 63% of motorcycle fatalities in the last 10 years involved motorcyclists who had not taken safety courses. About 23% of the motorcycle fatalities were riders under 21.
Under the new bill, young riders applying for the Junior Operator license will need to pass a vision and a written test, as well as take a safety course at the 15 spots across Massachusetts with certified instructors.
Posted Under: In the News, Motorcycle Safety Tags: motorcycle laws, motorcycle safety course
