MOTORCYCLISTS HANDBOOK - NCDOT

1 NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIOND ivision of Motor VehiclesMMOOTTOORRCCYYCCLLIISSTTSS HHAANNDDBBOOOOKKT hirteenth Edition, September 2007 LICENSINGAND REGISTRATIONThe law in North Carolina requires the operator of any motor-cycle to have a motorcycle endorsement shown on their driver slicense. An endorsement may be obtained upon initial issuance of adriver s license, or any time thereafter, by taking a knowledge testthat includes questions on motorcycling, and an off-street motor-cycle skills test. The knowledge test will be waived on a duplicate license may be issued to add an endorsement to your present license if the above testing requirements are you are not prepared to take the skills portion of the test, youmay apply for a motorcycle learner permit if you possess a full pro-visional, regular or commercial license.

2 The knowledge, road signidentification and vision test are you register a motorcyle with the Division of MotorVehicles, you will receive a license plate to be placed on the back ofthe motorcycle. Keep the plate clean and readable. PREPARINGTO RIDEWEAR Use ..6 Helmet and Face Protection ..7 Clothing .. Right Motorcycle for and Lending ..9 Get Familiar with theMotorcycle Controls ..9 Check Your Motorcycle .. WITHINYOUR Gears .. Another Vehicle ..15 Being and Being Sharing ..18 Merging Cars ..18 Cars Alongside .. Intersections ..21 Passing Parked at the Roadside.

3 22 INCREASING .. Light ..24 Using Your Mirrors ..24 Head Checks ..25 Horn ..25 Riding at Night .. Stops ..26 Swerving or Turning Quickly ..27 Cornering .. Surfaces and Surfaces ..30 Railroad Tracks, Trolley Tracksand Pavement Seams ..31 Grooves and Gratings ..32 Chain Seizure ..34 Instructing With Passengers ..35 Carrying Loads ..35 GROUP RIDING ..36 Keep the Group Small ..36 Keep the Group Your Distance ..36 BEING IN SHAPETO ANDOTHERDRUGS IN Alcohol Concentration ..39 ALCOHOL AND THE of Conviction ..40 MINIMIZE IN LICENSEK nowledge Test.

4 42On-Cycle Skill An approved helmetlets yousee as far to the sides as neces-sary. A study of more than 900motorcycle crashes, where 40%of the riders wore helmets, didnot find even one case in which a helmet kept a rider from spot-ting danger. Most crashes happenon shorttrips (less than five miles long),just a few minutes after startingout. Most ridersare riding slowerthan 30 mph when a crashoccurs. At these speeds, helmetscan cut both the number and theseverity of head injuries by matter what the speed, helmeted riders are three times more likely tosurvive head injuries than those notwearing helmets at the time of safety helmets will have the symbol "DOT" permanently installed 2008) with Federal Motor VehicleSafety Standard (FMVSS) THE RIGHT GEARWhen you ride, your gear is right if it protects you.

5 In anycrash, you have a far better chance ofavoiding serious injury if you wear: An approved helmet. Face or eye protection. Protective are not rare events particularly among beginning one out of every five motorcyclecrashes result in head or neck injuries are just as severe asneck injuries and far more com-mon. Crash analyses show that headand neck injuries account for a majori-ty of serious and fatal injuries tomotorcyclists. Research also showsthat, with few exceptions, head andneck injuries are reduced by the prop-er wearing of an approved riders don t wear helmetsbecause they think helmets will limittheir view to the sides.

6 Others wearhelmets only on long trips or whenriding at high speeds. North Carolinalaw requires the operator and all passengers to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. The helmet must beof a type that complies (effective Januaryby the manufacturer on the back of the helmet. It will also have permanently attached label either sewn or glued in the interior of the helmet that has the manufacturer's name or identification. It should have the precise model, size, and year of manufacture, type of shell and liner construction materials and an instruction label for cleaning and careof the helmet.)

7 The helmet must be properly secured with a retention are some facts to consider:6 PREPARING TO RIDEWhat 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 Become familiar with the Check the motorcycle Be a responsible THERIGHTGEAR Meets ofTransportation (DOT) and statestandards. Helmets with a labelfrom the Snell MemorialFoundation give you an addedassurance of quality. Fits snugly,all the way around.

8 Has no obvious defectssuch ascracks, loose padding or helmet you decide on,keep it securely fastened on your headwhen you ride. Otherwise, if you areinvolved in a crash, it s likely to flyoff your head before it gets a chanceto protect ANDFACEPROTECTIONA plastic shatter-resistantfaceshield can help protect your whole face in a crash. It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt,rain, insects, and pebbles thrown upfrom cars ahead. These problems aredistracting and can be painful. If youhave to deal with them, you can tdevote your full attention to the protect your eyes, though they won t protect the rest ofyour face like a faceshield does.

9 Awindshield is not a substitute for afaceshield or goggles. Most wind-shields will not protect your eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglass-es or sunglasses. Glasses won t keepyour eyes from watering, and theymight blow off when you turn yourhead while be effective, eye or faceshieldprotection must: Be freeof scratches. Be resistantto penetration. Give a clear viewto either side. Fasten securely,so it does notblow off. Permit airto pass through, toreduce fogging. Permit enough roomfor eyeglasses or sunglasses, if eye protection should notbe worn at night or any other timewhen little light is AND FACEPROTECTIONHELMETSHELMETSELECTIONT here are two primary types ofhelmets, providing two different levelsof coverage: three-quarter and style you choose, youcan get the most protection by makingsure that the helmet:CLOTHINGThe right clothing protects you ina crash.

10 It also provides comfort, aswell as protection from heat, cold,debris and hot and moving parts of the motorcycle. Jacket and pantsshould coverarms and legs completely. Theyshould fit snugly enough to keepfrom flapping in the wind, yetloosely enough to move offers the most protec-tion. Sturdy synthetic materialprovides a lot of protection aswell. Wear a jacket even inwarm weather to prevent dehy-dration. Many are designed toprotect without getting you over-heated, even on summer days. Boots or shoesshould be highand sturdy enough to cover yourankles and give them should be made of hard,durable, slip-resistant heels short so they do notcatch on rough surfaces.