New Law Takes Effect Today Requiring Training for Teen Motorcyclists

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new law takes effect today, Aug. 31, requiring 16- and 17-year olds seeking their motorcycle licenses to first complete Pennsylvania's motorcycle safety training.

Act 84, signed on July 2 by Governor Tom Corbett, requires these young riders seeking motorcycle licenses to first complete the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's (PAMSP) Basic Rider Course (BRC), which is offered at nearly 70 sites across the state. The training is free to Pennsylvania residents.

"With this new law, Pennsylvania is ensuring that young motorcycle riders are given the tools and the knowledge to ride safely on our roadways," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Roughly 400,000 riders have gone through this proven safety training program since it began in 1984 and graduates rave about how the training has improved their riding skills."

The BRC provides an introduction to the fundamentals of safe and responsible motorcycle operation and consists of 15 hours of classroom and riding instruction – five hours in the classroom and 10 hours on the course. These 15 hours can be applied toward the 65 hours of on-the-road training required for riders under 18 years old who have a motorcycle learner's permit. Young riders who complete the course will be given a certificate-of-completion card. If they have completed all of the learner's permit requirements they can be tested for their motorcycle license at the conclusion of the PAMSP training.

Information about the PAMSP training can be found at www.pamsp.com. Motorcycle safety information, including videos about the training programs and testimonials from graduates, can be found at PennDOT's Live Free Ride Alive website at www.LiveFreeRideAlive.com. More information about PennDOT's traffic safety programs can be found at www.JustDrivePa.com.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews.

Media contact: Jan McKnight, 717-787-0485 

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation