Driver's ed
Driver's ed
I'm 21 yrs old. I took driver's ed at my high school when I was 16. Did the classroom portion and signed up for a behind the wheel portion. Took the written test for my permit at the local DMV after "reading" the pamphlet about safe driving. Took my driver's test a few months later and passed first try with no trouble at all.
So after all that driver training and education not one instructor or anyone (other then my parents who both ride) said anything to me about watching out for motorcycles. When I was in the classroom portion of driver's ed we had a guest speaker come in and spend an entire class talking about driving over railroad tracks. How many cars do you read about that get hit by a train? How many cars do you read about that hit a biker? So why is this topic never covered in driver training among young will be cagers?
This I'm sure is the root cause of many motorcycle fatalities involving a car or truck. So who wants to volunteer to be a guest speaker at their local school to talk about motorcycle safety? Sign me up...
So after all that driver training and education not one instructor or anyone (other then my parents who both ride) said anything to me about watching out for motorcycles. When I was in the classroom portion of driver's ed we had a guest speaker come in and spend an entire class talking about driving over railroad tracks. How many cars do you read about that get hit by a train? How many cars do you read about that hit a biker? So why is this topic never covered in driver training among young will be cagers?
This I'm sure is the root cause of many motorcycle fatalities involving a car or truck. So who wants to volunteer to be a guest speaker at their local school to talk about motorcycle safety? Sign me up...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
From: Republic of Tejas
That is a great idea. I don't see why the AMA, HOG, or other motorcycle groups are not doing this. If not a speaker the least they could do is produce a video that is show in Drivers ED classes.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 180
From: east texas
Excellant thought....
However , all the "safe driving courses are nothing but "revenue driven"
Has nothing to do with training drivers of anything.
That encludes the Motorcycle safety course .
Nothing but revenue to someone .
Have you seen the teeniebopppers "texting while driving ? and others
Have you seen folks talking on the cellphone while driving ?
have you seen peoples speeding ( at least 5-10 over ) because everyone does it ??..
have you seen motorcycles driving too fast and wheelies/stoppies on the street ?
Have you seen way too many rearend collisions ...failure to have vehichle under control ? (20+ car pile ups on the "freeway"
well all of these things are covered in the course ..
but , does not make anything a darned bit safer ..
Just lines someones pocket , cause the "law requires the course "
However , all the "safe driving courses are nothing but "revenue driven"
Has nothing to do with training drivers of anything.
That encludes the Motorcycle safety course .
Nothing but revenue to someone .
Have you seen the teeniebopppers "texting while driving ? and others
Have you seen folks talking on the cellphone while driving ?
have you seen peoples speeding ( at least 5-10 over ) because everyone does it ??..
have you seen motorcycles driving too fast and wheelies/stoppies on the street ?
Have you seen way too many rearend collisions ...failure to have vehichle under control ? (20+ car pile ups on the "freeway"
well all of these things are covered in the course ..
but , does not make anything a darned bit safer ..
Just lines someones pocket , cause the "law requires the course "
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 20
From: Driftless Area
Good thought, its a wonder there aren't more accidents. Really pitiful training, no panic stops or evasive vehicle control. My daughter just got her license, told her to pull over right NOW! She couldn't do it, she said I didn't give her enough time to react. Let her know that you don't always have advanced warning in certain situations. I truly believe the training is not comprehensive enough. my .02
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 59
From: Chicagoland
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 1,165
From: No where near you, OH
Excellant thought....
However , all the "safe driving courses are nothing but "revenue driven"
Has nothing to do with training drivers of anything.
That encludes the Motorcycle safety course .
Nothing but revenue to someone .
Have you seen the teeniebopppers "texting while driving ? and others
Have you seen folks talking on the cellphone while driving ?
have you seen peoples speeding ( at least 5-10 over ) because everyone does it ??..
have you seen motorcycles driving too fast and wheelies/stoppies on the street ?
Have you seen way too many rearend collisions ...failure to have vehichle under control ? (20+ car pile ups on the "freeway"
well all of these things are covered in the course ..
but , does not make anything a darned bit safer ..
Just lines someones pocket , cause the "law requires the course "
However , all the "safe driving courses are nothing but "revenue driven"
Has nothing to do with training drivers of anything.
That encludes the Motorcycle safety course .
Nothing but revenue to someone .
Have you seen the teeniebopppers "texting while driving ? and others
Have you seen folks talking on the cellphone while driving ?
have you seen peoples speeding ( at least 5-10 over ) because everyone does it ??..
have you seen motorcycles driving too fast and wheelies/stoppies on the street ?
Have you seen way too many rearend collisions ...failure to have vehichle under control ? (20+ car pile ups on the "freeway"
well all of these things are covered in the course ..
but , does not make anything a darned bit safer ..
Just lines someones pocket , cause the "law requires the course "
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Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 50
From: Gilbert, AZ
I think charging drivers who pull out in front of motorcycles with aggravated assault or manslaughter instead of failure to yield would make a difference as well. Personally, I think everyone who wants a drivers license should have to spend some time on a scooter or motorcycle first. That would raise awareness. I know it sure did in my case.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 13
From: Southeast WI
My son just finished his drivers ed course today and I asked him about this. He said that in the three week, 2-hours per day classroom portion of the course that every day motorcycling aspects of driving were covered. And, an experienced motorcyclist came in one day and provided an hour of instruction as part of the curriculum. My son said that they were always stressing to look out for motorcycles and that they were harder to see. They also had a block of instruction regarding large vehicles and had an experienced semi driver come to the school with his semi-truck. I was very impressed with the instruction provided by this particular school.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 67
From: Phoenix
Good thought, its a wonder there aren't more accidents. Really pitiful training, no panic stops or evasive vehicle control. My daughter just got her license, told her to pull over right NOW! She couldn't do it, she said I didn't give her enough time to react. Let her know that you don't always have advanced warning in certain situations. I truly believe the training is not comprehensive enough. my .02
...Can you tell I'm bitter?
Oh, and the license test in California is stupid. Whenever something went wrong on it, rather than teach the kid how to do it right, they just dumbed the test down. So, no parallel parking, no freeway. It's a 15-minute loop around the DMV. The most difficult part is backing up in a straight line.