Driver's License Handbook
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PREFACE Operating a motorcycle safely in These revisions reflect: traffic requires special skills and • The latest finding of motorcycle knowledge. The Motorcycle Safety safety research. Foundation (MSF) has made this manual • Comments and guidance provided available to help novice motorcyclists by the motorcycling, licensing and reduce their risk of having a crash. The traffic safety communities. manual conveys essential safe riding information and has been designed for • Expanded alcohol and drug use in licensing programs. While information. designed for the novice, all motorcyclists In promoting improved licensing can benefit from the information this programs, the MSF works closely with manual contains. state licensing agencies. The Foundation The original Motorcycle Operator has helped more than half the states in Manual was developed by the National the nation adopt the Motorcycle Operator Public Services Research Institute Manual for use in their licensing (NPSRI) under contract to the National systems. Highway Traffic Safety Administration Improved licensing, along with (NHTSA) and within the terms of a high-quality motorcycle rider education cooperative agreement between NHTSA and increased public awareness, has the and the MSF. The manual and related potential to reduce crashes. Staff at the tests were used in a multi-year study of Foundation are available to assist state, improved motorcycle operator licensing private and governmental agencies in procedures, conducted by the California efforts to improve motorcycle safety. Department of Motor Vehicles under contract to NHTSA. The purpose of this manual is to educate the reader to help avoid crashes while safely operating a motorcycle. For this edition, the MSF has updated and expanded the content of the original Tim Buche manual. President, Motorcycle Safety Foundation ® 2 Jenner Street, Suite 150 Irvine, CA 92618-3806 www.msf-usa.org CONTENTS PREPARING HANDLING DANGEROUS SURFACES ...27 TO RIDE Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles ........27 Slippery Surfaces ..............................28 WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR ..................... 4 Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks Helmet Use ........................................ 4 and Pavement Seams .....................29 Helmet Selection ................................ 4 Grooves and Gratings .......................29 Eye and Face Protection ..................... 5 MECHANICAL PROBLEMS ..................30 Clothing ............................................. 6 Tire Failure .......................................30 KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE ............... 6 Stuck Throttle ...................................30 The Right Motorcycle for You ........... 6 W obble ..............................................30 Borrowing and Lending ..................... 7 Chain Problems .................................31 Get Familiar with the Engine Seizure ..................................31 Motorcycle Controls ....................... 7 ANIMALS ..............................................31 Check Your Motorcycle ..................... 8 FLYING OBJECTS ................................32 KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ......... 9 GETTING OFF THE ROAD ...................32 RIDE WITHIN CARRYING PASSENGERS YOUR ABILITIES AND CARGO ......................................32 BASIC VEHICLE CONTROL ................ 10 Equipment .........................................32 Body Position ................................... 10 Instructing Passengers ......................33 Shifting Gears .................................. 10 Riding With Passengers ....................33 Braking ............................................ 11 Carrying Loads .................................33 Turning ............................................. 11 GROUP RIDING ....................................34 KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE ................ 12 Keep the Group Small ......................34 Lane Positions .................................. 12 Keep the Group Together ..................34 F ollowing Another Vehicle ............... 13 K eep Your Distance ...........................34 Being Followed ................................ 14 BEING IN SHAPE Passing and Being Passed ................ 14 Lane Sharing .................................... 16 TO RIDE Merging Cars ................................... 16 WHY THIS INFORMATION IS Cars Alongside ................................. 16 IMPORTANT ......................................36 SEE ..................................................... 17 ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN INTERSECTIONS .................................. 18 MOTORCYCLE OPERATION .............36 Blind Intersections ........................... 19 ALCOHOL IN THE BODY .....................37 Passing Parked Cars ......................... 20 Blood Alcohol Parking at the Roadside ................... 20 Concentration ................................37 INCREASING CONSPICUITY ................ 21 ALCOHOL AND THE LAW ...................38 Clothing ........................................... 21 Consequences of Headlight .......................................... 21 Conviction .....................................38 Signals .............................................. 21 MINIMIZE THE RISKS .........................38 Brake Light ....................................... 22 STEP IN TO PROTECT FRIENDS ..........39 Using Your Mirrors .......................... 22 Head Checks .................................... 23 FATIGUE ..............................................39 Horn ................................................. 23 EARNING Riding at Night ................................ 24 YOUR LICENSE CRASH AVOIDANCE ........................... 24 Quick Stops ...................................... 24 Knowledge Test .................................40 Swerving or Turning Quickly .......... 25 On-Motorcycle Skill Test ..................41 Cornering ......................................... 26 3 PREPARING TO RIDE What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward determining whether or not you’ll get where you want to go safely. Before taking off on any trip, a safe rider makes a point to: 1. Wear the right gear. 2. Become familiar with the motorcycle. 3. Check the motorcycle equipment. 4. Be a responsible rider. WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR • An approved helmet lets you see When you ride, your gear is as far to the sides as necessary. A “right” if it protects you. In any study of more than 900 motorcycle crash, you have a far better chance of crashes, where 40% of the riders avoiding serious injury if you wear: wore helmets, did not find even one case in which a helmet kept a • An approved helmet. rider from spotting danger. EAR •F ace or eye protection. • Most crashes happen on short G •Pr otective clothing. trips (less than five miles long), just a few minutes after IGHT HELMET USE starting out. R Crashes can occur — • Most riders are riding slower than 30 mph when a crash particularly among untrained, beginning riders. And one out of occurs. At these speeds, helmets can cut both the number and the EAR THE every five motorcycle crashes results severity of head injuries by half. W in head or neck injuries. Head injuries are just as severe as neck No matter what the speed, injuries — and far more common. helmeted riders are three times more Crash analyses show that head and likely to survive head injuries than neck injuries account for a majority those not wearing helmets at the time of serious and fatal injuries to of the crash. motorcyclists. Research also shows that, with few exceptions, head and HELMET SELECTION neck injuries are reduced by properly There are two primary types of wearing an approved helmet. helmets, providing two different Some riders don’t wear helmets levels of coverage: three-quarter and because they think helmets will limit full face. their view to the sides. Others wear Whichever style you choose, you helmets only on long trips or when can get the most protection by riding at high speeds. Here are some making sure that the helmet: facts to consider: 4 HELMETS H ELMET U SE • Meets U.S. Department of Goggles protect your eyes, Transportation (DOT) and state though they won’t protect the rest of standards. Helmets with a label your face like a faceshield does. A E F P from the Snell Memorial windshield is not a substitute for a YE YE AND ACE ROTECTION Foundation give you an added faceshield or goggles. Most assurance of quality. windshields will not protect your • Fits snugly, all the way around. eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses • Has no obvious defects such won’t keep your eyes from watering, as cracks, loose padding or and they might blow off when you frayed straps. turn your head while riding. Whatever helmet you decide To be effective, eye or on, keep it securely fastened on your faceshield protection must: head when you ride. Otherwise, if you are involved in a crash, it’s likely • Be free of scratches. to fly off your head before it gets a • Be resistant to penetration. chance to protect you. • Give a clear view to either side. • Fasten securely, so it does not EYE AND FACE PROTECTION blow off. A plastic shatter-resistant • Permit air to pass through, to faceshield can help protect your reduce fogging. whole face in a crash. It also • Permit enough room for protects you from wind, dust, dirt, eyeglasses or sunglasses, if rain, insects and pebbles thrown up needed. from cars ahead. These problems are distracting and can be painful. Tinted eye protection should If you have to deal with them, you not be worn at night or any other can’t devote your full