I'm going to write the state of florida a letter explaining my viewpoint on ideas to decrease the number of motorcycle related accidents and deaths. Here are a few points/ideas for laws (or refine existing laws) i'm going to mention, if you have any, then feel free to add them, or criticize mine, whatever
:
-Must be at least 21yrs of age to ride a motorcycle :i know some of our younger posters here won't agree with me, but it's so sad (i know first hand) when you hear about a teenager dying. I lost 2 friends before i graduated highschool, and one of my best friends 2 years later. I'm not saying all teen drivers are wreckless...but face it...you grow up.

-Any type of wreckless/careless driving ticket can have a seperate fine if the driver is not wearing a helmet. (example: $300 ticket for unlawful speeding/carless/wreckless can have a $45 fine for driving wrecklessly without proper safety gear added to it.

-To recieve a Motorcycle endorsement in this state, you must complete a Motorcycle safety course, with an approved facility. And lower the cost from ~$200 to $125-$150.

-Caught riding without endorsement AND no helmet: riding privelages can be suspended for 6 months to 2 years depending on offense. (example: careless driving->suspended for 1-2 years...minor offense->6 month suspension before you can get your endorsement.)

-tag must be visible at all times, warnings can be given, or a "fix-it" ticket...basically meaning $40 ticket, unless you provide proof that its visible then just a $5 charge at the courthouse.

-Fleeing and Eluding can result in $500-$1500 in fines, Revoking of endorsement for 1-5years, not in confiscation of property. Repeat offenders face permanent property confiscation, and permanently revoked endorsement.

All of these ideas will make insurance rates go down, which is a main cause,for people who have accidents, financial distress (paying for a bike that is totalled and could not afford ins.).

Also a possible idea to get state funding for motorcycle awareness commercials/billboards like they have in europe.

 

Not to bad there man I agree with them and they dont seem to harsh..... and yes u called it ...i really would like to ride before i turn 21...maybe there should be a harder course for riders under 21? or more to pay or like 1-2 yrs car driving exp without any crashs or tickets? i dunno just my 2 cents i guess...

great post

Rob

 

I agree with that and I am a rider also.

What sucks is that I dont think that they will even open the letter. You need to contact someone directly, and pressure them about it. If you need any help im down.

 

Well my family has known Charlie Christ for years, and i know i can get my letter on his desk. Thats not going to be too great of a problem, the problem will be time...time for him to make time to read it, to talk to others about it. I plan on making a formal letter and sending about 30 copies to different state officials.

 

I see. So you technically got your foot in the door already. Thats great. Did you see the other thread around here somewhere about them confiscating bikes? I think that maybe you could suggest some alternatives to that. Maybe get together some sort of petirion and get riders to sign.

By doing this I think it would show them that not all sportbike riders are the same, and it will also show that we want to find some way to control the immature riders.

 

I agree with some of the ideas, but not all of them.

However, I feel torn on my stance on not allowing anyone under 21 to ride... why??? Because we live in America and if you can go to war and die for your country fighting for freedom, you certainly should be able to enjoy the freedom of riding a motorcycle when you come home from the war...

HOWEVER with that being said, one could make an argument for being able to drink alcohol at a younger age than 21 too, but we all know that it is not a good idea.

Same scenario here, although not quite equal, I too believe that not allowing "kids" to ride motorcycles until they are 21 would be doing them and their family and all the insurance customers who bare the burden of higher rates the favor by "saving themseleves from themselves." Just like the purpose of the drinking age minimum.

The problem with that is the slippery slope.... who's to say where it begins and ends? (insert the lesson from the Will Smith movie I-Robot).

Do I think it would be the best for everyone not to allow "kids" to ride motorcycles until they are 21, YES. Maturity level reasons, skill level reasons. Would I like it if I were under 21? No.

It would be interesting to see politicians duke it out over the pros and cons.

 

Thats not fair to assume that every teenager is reckless. I know plenty of 25 year olds that do things that most teenagers don't even think of. Maybe instead of just setting it to a higher age, let the teenagers get the license. Just like the car license, the testing needs to be alot more in depth. As it is right now, the air head that can't tell me what a yellow light means can get a driver's license. I think a large marjority of our issues would go away if you actually had to know how to drive to get a license.

I agree and I i disagree. I agree because if there is a seat belt ticket for cars, there should be a helmet ticket for bikes. At the same time, I don't agree with the forcing a person to be safe for themselves. If you don't wear the belt and you get hurt or die, thats you choice. Who are we to take that choice away?

I very much agree with this one. As long as the course isn't like the defensive driver course they have. This course should go hand in hand with the much more detailed and in depth test. It needs to teach what to do when you are in the rain. How to deal with traffic. How to deal with getting cut off. A decent amount of knowledge of how to handle and maneuver most situations. If everyone that had a driver's lisence was a better driver overall, alot of issues would go away, on both the careless car side and the careless bike side.

Again with the lack of choice on the helmet part. It doesn't effect anyone else, just that one person. The endorsement however, effects everyone out on the road. Thats a big issue. One to two years for careless driving, you know that rolling through a stop sign is classified as careless driving right? That just doesn't seem like the punishment suits the cause. But I think I get the point you are trying to make. You can't just get pulled over because the cop feels like it. you have to be breaking some law, and according to the law that you are breaking, that will dictate the level of punishment for not having the proper endorsements.

A tag and all other lights and gaurds and rice rocket mufflers. Don't get me wrong, I like a nice sounding bike, but I don't need to hear you 2 miles of high pitched, glass shattering interstate away. Same goes for the ground shaking, dishes clattering, rumble cruisers too.

Prove it was me, and I'll take the punishment, but if all you have is a plate number, then you've got nothing. If a buddy of mine takes my bike for a joy ride, flees and eludes, there is no reason why I am taking the hit. You can't prove it was me just because it was my bike just like you can't prove it was me just because it was my gun. Its a good idea to deter runners, but it needs the kinks worked out.

If the cars have to have insurance then the bikes do too. There is no reason why my POS that is worth 500 bucks has to have insuraunce and your 8,000 dollar bike doesn't. Simply having better drivers will, in turn cause the rates to go down by having less wrecks and other issues. That is going to be your main way to lower insurance. Make everyone better drivers and riders. The streets become safer to be on. the rates go down. its simple supply and demand.


And like all things, that would be nice, but who is going to pay for it? Tax payers. If we keep cutting taxes, we won't be able to afford any thing, let alone state funded commercials. You want less taxes, then don't look for state funded anything. You want the state to pay for more, then look forward to tax increases.


I didn't mean to cut down everything. I just wanted to point out where things need improvement. You're on the right track with something things, the kinks just need worked out now.
Have fun

 

 

Just thought about this when I read your idea: Make the parents responsible for all actions of the rider if they are under 21. But no-one under 18 can own ANYTHING over 500cc. That way the youngins (like me) can still ride and someone can still police them (parents). Lets say the kid gets a speeding ticket, make the parents and the rider be responsible for it. Its kinda like when you get your drivers license at 16, by law your parents can legally take your license away from you at any time for any reason until you are 18. I wish they would have never told me that at the DMV when I first got my license because my mom would always threaten me with this.

 

Ok cool, i'm getting some good feedback, i like it.

Being a parent has a LOT of responsibilities already, I don't think making them liable for something their child chooses to do/not do is appropriate; and if you're old enough to drive a car, i think you should be the one taking the hit by johnny law, not mommy and daddy.

Yea i thought about the 18 and up, and the 500cc limit is a good idea...BUT just because you have less power under you doesn't mean you don't have to make wise decisions. But i'll think about that one!


I know thats not fair to assume, i've ridden with many people under 21 that ride responsibly most of the time, but then i've met they're friends that like to do wheelies in traffic and gas it at the yellow light when you have room to stop. Not all teenagers are wreckless, but keeping them off motorcycles would really really bring down the number of motorcycle related deaths.

I agree on making the driving course more in depth, but as it is, people don't want to take the 18hr safety course. The drills are effective, and people come out as better riders after it. They offer an advanced course for like $75, i was thinking maybe combine them, but keep the $200 course fee (don't raise that), and i believe that would solve a lot of simple operator errors out on the road as well.

We're a long way from any of these even being read by someone who matters, so keep up the feed back, it'll probably be another month before i have time to sit down and put all mythoughts together. And i'm not trying to attack anyone here, just help the state of florida decrease its motorcycle deaths, and help all us riders stay alive.