Tiered Licensing To Reduce Motorcycle Fatalities

One of the main concerns for motorcyclists these days is keeping the roadways as safe as possible to prevent motorcycle injuries from occurring in Florida. The state of Florida has taken action to fulfill the wishes of motorcyclists whose main concern is safety. In the past, laws have been enacted to try and make automobile operators more aware of motorcyclists on the roadway, and the enforcement of existing safety regulations has been ramped up doubly. Now, a tiered licensing system has been suggested throughout the United States to further reduce injuries and deaths on the roadway. 

Supersport Motorcycles - What Are They?

Supersport motorcycles are considered to be extremely high-powered motorcycles for their size. Recently, some models of supersport motorcycles have been found to weigh less than 400 pounds, yet still have the same horsepower as a 2012 Ram 1500 pickup truck, which has a gross weight of more than two tons. These motorcycles can reach 60 miles per hour in less than 2.7 seconds, as well as hustle through a quarter mile in around 10 seconds. 

Supersport motorcycles are a popular choice for many motorcycle enthusiasts. They are light, quick, and can turn on a dime. They also come in a wide variety of engine sizes and top speeds. There is no specific definition for supersport motorcycles, but anything over 600 cc is considered to be a supersport motorcycle. 

These bikes have the ability to reach speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour, which is intended for racing. However, instead of racing, these bikes are often seen being operated on roadways throughout Florida and the rest of the United States. Speed and the carelessness of many owners of supersport motorcycles contribute to the danger of these machines. 

Overall, these motorcycles can be extremely dangerous when the operator doesn’t have any previous experience handling these types of bikes. Knowing how to properly operate and handle a motorcycle with as much power as a supersport takes patience and practice, but many choose to ride them without either of those things. 

Why Are Supersport Motorcycles Dangerous?

These bikes are appealing to riders of all skill levels due to them being very fast and accelerate rapidly. However, they should only be operated by skilled and experienced riders. In 2005, supersport motorcyclists experienced four times more fatal crashes than other motorcyclists, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The lure of speed-based excitement often leads to disastrous accidents for inexperienced riders. 

Supersport motorcycles make up for less than 10% of motorcycles on the road, yet they account for over 25% of all motorcycle fatalities. The fatality rate for moderate or cruiser motorcycles is around 5.7 deaths per 100,000 registered vehicles, whereas the fatality rate for large supersport motorcycles is 10.7 per 100,000. That means that the death rate more than doubles for individuals who choose to ride supersport motorcycles. 

Here are the main reasons why supersport motorcycles are so dangerous on the roadways.

Excessive Confidence

The purpose of choosing one of these bikes often lies in projecting a certain image to others. A supersport motorcycle’s look and power appeal to them, and they want to show off what they’ve got. It is often the case that these novice motorcycle riders cannot safely handle the speed and power that their motorcycle has. In fact, it has been proven many times that a young, inexperienced rider and a powerful bike are a deadly combination. 

Excessive Speed

For the most part, these motorcycles are designed for race tracks, and they offer a great deal of power and speed that would be inappropriate for a roadway with other vehicles. It is true that many riders use them in a responsible manner on the highway, but there are some who are unable to control their desire to go as fast as possible. Riders of these motorcycles sometimes ride on public roadways at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, despite the fact that this is an unsafe practice and illegal. 

Lack Of Control

It takes practice and experience to balance a motorcycle. In order to function properly, a supersport bike requires considerable throttle control to ensure the motorcycle does not get away from the rider. The motorcycle can easily be flipped if the rider applies too much gas to it. Thus effectively showing that the rider has little if not zero control over the motorcycle. 

What Can Be Done To Decrease Motorcycle Fatalities?

The United States wants to adapt the tiered licensing program that Japan has created. This licensing program is for motorcyclists with the following categories:

• Mopeds - up to 50 cc

• Small bikes - up to 125 cc

• Medium bikes - up to 400 cc

• Large bikes - 400 cc and above 

In order to obtain a motorcycle license for each tier, motorcyclists must complete training and testing prior to receiving their license for the class of motorcycle they wish to ride. In Japan, a rider must use their motorcycles to effectively cross a balance beam, navigate through a series of sharp and tight turns, show they can brake in an emergency situation, slalom in tight conditions, and start the bike while it’s facing uphill. It’s important to note that each tier has a maximum speed that the rider is allowed to operate the bike at. The only exception is the large bike tier, which is unlimited. 

By implementing this multi-tiered licensing system in the United States, it is hopeful that unskilled and inexperienced riders will be weeded out and unable to operate motorcycles that are too powerful for them. It will also prevent prejudice against youthful riders with the proper qualifications and skillsets. 

Additionally, in Japan, those who pass and obtain a motorcycle license will not be able to have a passenger on the bike with them for at least one year. This is similar to the US rule of allowing no one except family members in the car for six months after obtaining a driver’s license.