MOTORCYCLISTS’ HANDBOOK NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Division of Motor Vehicles Thirteenth Edition, September 2007 LICENSING AND REGISTRATION The law in North Carolina requires the operator of any motor- cycle to have a motorcycle endorsement shown on their driver’s license. An endorsement may be obtained upon initial issuance of a driver’s license, or any time thereafter, by taking a knowledge test that includes questions on motorcycling, and an off-street motor- cycle skills test. The knowledge test will be waived on a renewal. A duplicate license may be issued to add an endorsement to your present license if the above testing requirements are satisfied. If you are not prepared to take the skills portion of the test, you may apply for a motorcycle learner permit if you possess a full pro- visional, regular or commercial license. The knowledge, road sign identification and vision test are required. When you register a motorcyle with the Division of Motor Vehicles, you will receive a license plate to be placed on the back of the motorcycle. Keep the plate clean and readable. CONTENTS PREPARING HANDLING DANEROUS SURFACES ....29 Uneven Surfaces and Obstacles...29 TO RIDE Slippery Surfaces .........................30 WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR ...................6 Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracks Helmet Use ....................................6 and Pavement Seams ...................31 Helmet Selection............................6 Grooves and Gratings .................31 Eye and Face Protection ................7 MECHANICAL PROBLEMS .................32 Clothing .........................................8 Tire Failure...................................32 KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE ..............8 Stuck Throttle...............................32 The Right Motorcycle for You.......8 Wobble .........................................32 Borrowing and Lending.................9 Chain Problems............................33 Get Familiar with the Engine Seizure .............................33 Motorcycle Controls ......................9 ANIMALS...........................................33 Check Your Motorcycle...............10 FLYING OBJECTS ..............................34 KNOW YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.......11 GETTING OFF THE ROAD .................34 CARRYING PASSENGERS RIDE WITHIN AND CARGO ......................................34 YOUR ABILITIES Equipment....................................34 BASIC VEHICLE CONTROL ...............12 Instructing Passengers..................35 Body Position...............................12 Riding With Passengers ...............35 Shifting Gears ..............................12 Carrying Loads ............................35 Braking.........................................13 GROUP RIDING.........................36 Turning.........................................13 Keep the Group Small .................36 KEEPING YOUR DISTANCE ...............14 Keep the Group Together.............36 Lane Positions..............................14 Keep Your Distance .....................36 Following Another Vehicle..........15 Being Followed............................16 BEING IN SHAPE Passing and Being Passed............16 TO RIDE Lane Sharing................................18 WHY THIS INFORMATION IS Merging Cars ...............................18 IMPORTANT...................................38 Cars Alongside.............................18 ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN SEE..................................................19 MOTORCYCLE OPERATION...............38 INTERSECTIONS ................................20 ALCOHOL IN THE BODY ...................39 Blind Intersections .......................21 Blood Alcohol Concentration ......39 Passing Parked Cars.....................22 ALCOHOL AND THE LAW...................40 Parking at the Roadside ...............22 Consequences of Conviction .......40 INCREASING CONSPICUITY...23 MINIMIZE THE RISKS .......................40 Clothing .......................................23 Headlight......................................23 STEP IN TO PROTECT FRIENDS.........41 Signals..........................................23 FATIGUE............................................41 Brake Light ..................................24 Using Your Mirrors......................24 Head Checks ................................25 EARNING Horn .............................................25 YOUR LICENSE Riding at Night ............................26 Knowledge Test ..............................42 CRASH AVOIDANCE...........................26 On-Cycle Skill Test..........................43 Quick Stops..................................26 Swerving or Turning Quickly......27 Cornering .....................................28 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 by the manufacturer on the back of the helmet. It will also have permanently When you ride, your gear is attached label either sewn or glued “right” if it protects you. In any in the interior of the helmet that has crash, you have a far better chance of the manufacturer's name or identification. avoiding serious injury if you wear: It should have the precise model, size, and year of manufacture, type of shell • An approved helmet. EAR and liner construction materials and • Face or eye protection. G an instruction label for cleaning and care • Protective clothing. of the helmet. The helmet must be properly secured with a retention strap. IGHT R HELMET USE Here are some facts to consider: Crashes are not rare events — particularly among beginning riders. • An approved helmet lets you And one out of every five motorcycle see as far to the sides as neces- EAR THE crashes result in head or neck injuries. sary. A study of more than 900 W Head injuries are just as severe as motorcycle crashes, where 40% neck injuries — and far more com- of the riders wore helmets, did mon. Crash analyses show that head not find even one case in which and neck injuries account for a majori- a helmet kept a rider from spot- ty of serious and fatal injuries to ting danger. motorcyclists. Research also shows • Most crashes happen on short that, with few exceptions, head and trips (less than five miles long), neck injuries are reduced by the prop- just a few minutes after starting er wearing of an approved helmet. out. Some riders don’t wear helmets • Most riders are riding slower because they think helmets will limit than 30 mph when a crash their view to the sides. Others wear occurs. At these speeds, helmets helmets only on long trips or when can cut both the number and the riding at high speeds. North Carolina severity of head injuries by half. law requires the operator and all No matter what the speed, helmeted passengers to wear a helmet when riders are three times more likely to riding a motorcycle. The helmet must be survive head injuries than those not of a type that complies (effective January wearing helmets at the time of the 2008) with Federal Motor Vehicle crash. Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218. Compliant safety helmets will have the symbol "DOT" permanently installed 6 HELMET SELECTION There are two primary types of Whichever style you choose, you helmets, providing two different levels can get the most protection by making of coverage: three-quarter and full sure that the helmet: face. 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 from the Snell Memorial windshield is not a substitute for a E Foundation give you an added faceshield or goggles. Most wind- YE AND FACE assurance of quality. shields will not protect your eyes • Fits snugly, all the way around. from the wind. Neither will eyeglass- es or sunglasses. Glasses won’t keep • Has no obvious defects such as your eyes from watering, and they cracks, loose padding or frayed might blow off when you turn your straps. head while riding. P Whatever helmet you decide on, ROTECTION keep it securely fastened on your head To be effective, eye or faceshield when you ride. Otherwise, if you are protection must: involved in a crash, it’s likely to fly • Be free of scratches. off your head before it gets a chance • Be resistant to penetration. to protect you. • Give a clear view to either side. • Fasten securely, so it does not blow off. EYE AND FACE PROTECTION • Permit air to pass through, to A plastic shatter-resistant reduce fogging. faceshield can help protect your • Permit enough room for whole face in a crash. It also eyeglasses or sunglasses, if protects you from wind, dust, dirt, needed. rain, insects, and pebbles thrown up Tinted eye protection should not from cars ahead. These problems are be worn at night or any other time distracting and can be painful. If you when little light is available. have to deal with them, you can’t devote your full attention to the road. 7 CLOTHING KNOW YOUR The right clothing protects you in MOTORCYCLE LOTHING a crash. It also provides comfort, as There are plenty of things on the C well as protection from heat, cold, highway that can cause you trouble. debris and hot and moving parts of Your motorcycle should not be one of the motorcycle. them. To make sure that your motor- • Jacket and pants should cover cycle won’t let you down: arms