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Behaviors
Behaviors that affect your chance of
being killed while driving a motorcycle.
To promote our mission, NMCTI encourages certain behaviors of motorcycle drivers that decrease Motorcycle Driver Fatality Rates.
Also NMCTI discourages certain behaviors of motorcycle drivers that increase these rates.
Below are examples of motorcycle driver behaviors we encourage and discourage.1
This is not intended to be a complete list. Take some time to think of other items you may add to each list that
would be specific to your situation.
First, and most importantly, we encourage you to practice behaviors that reduce danger while driving any vehicle!
1. Develop the habit of identifying and eliminating the unnecessary risks before and while using any vehicle.
2. Separate the activities of using alcohol/drugs and operating any vehicle.
3. Match speed to conditions. For example, slow down if it is raining.
4. Use injury reducing devices should a collision occur. For example, use seatbelts when driving cars;
wear an approved helmet while riding motorcycles.
5. Use a Graduated Driver License system. For example, the Provisional License System for young drivers of cars; the
Graduated Rider Certification for motorcyclists.
Additionally, we encourage these behaviors for motorcycle drivers:
Keep in mind that driving a motorcycle is a demanding and intense activity, and much more demanding than driving other vehicles;
prepare and participate accordingly.
Follow the Steps to be a NMCTI Certified Motorcycle Operator. Embrace a
Graduated Riding Licensing system.
Accept the different periods of your motorcycle operator knowledge development and enjoy and embrace these different periods:
The Beginner-time, the Learner-time, and the Ongoing-time.
BEGINNER-TIME: From deciding to become a motorcyclist to just before your first street ride.
Know basic motorcycle operation before your first street ride. Know how to confidently control speed and direction of a motorcycle before
you interact with traffic!
LEARNER-TIME: From your first street ride to a minimum of 500 miles and 6 months of riding. If you
gave yourself a proper Beginner-time, you should already know how to operate a motorcycle before your first street ride to start your Learner-time.
Use appropriately sized motorcycles during your learner-time, for however many miles you need and for however long it takes to develop
your motorcycling knowledge and skill to an
intermediate level.
ONGOING-TIME: Occurs after sufficient mental and physical skill development, and experience, such that you
can demonstrate high level proficiency of motorcycling skills. If you have a period of more than 6 months of not riding, manage your first rides
returning to motorcycling as if you are in another learner-time.
Riding in Groups: If the group is larger than four riders, break the larger group up into smaller groups of four or less and separate the
groups in space and time. The larger group can re-assemble once the destination is reached. Recognize an increase in risk and a change
in behavior whenever riding in any group.
Separate riding gear into two categories, helmets and other gear. Helmets have some effect on reducing Motorcycle Driver Fatality
Rates, up to 38% (which is smaller than expected). Unfortunately, helmets are good at protecting the skull and poor at protecting the brain.
Using a well-made proper-fitting (not too loose or too tight) helmet while riding is encouraged.2
Riding a motorcycle is a high risk activity, whether or not the rider is wearing a helmet. Our position is that wearing a proper fitting and affixed helmet
reduces your chance of experiencing skull injuries in many types of collisons.
Share data
with your motorcycling community. Share your knowledge that motorcyling is often much more dangerous and demanding than people perceive.
And some behaviors we discourage:
Time spent riding while impaired. Some common impairments are:
Alcohol and recreational drugs while driving
Other medications that cause impairment while driving
Times of intense mental distractions and/or of intense emotional feelings while driving
Improper/uncomfortable riding gear while driving
Riding any motorcycle on the street before you know how to confidently control the speed and direction of that particular motorcycle.
Using large and/or powerful motorcycles not appropriate for your skill level.
Riding in groups before you have at least 500 miles and 6 months of riding experience.
Riding in groups of more than four riders.
Footnotes:
1.National Motorcycle Training Institute does not take a position on whether or not you should have the
above behaviors. Our position is that motorcyclists exhibiting and practicing these behaviors would have the corresponding effect on
increasing/decreasing motorcycle driver fatality and morbidity rates.
2. Other gear is not effective in reducing high levels of morbidity such as fatalities. Bulky, inappropriate "protective" gear can even be a causal factor in some mishaps. When considering other riding gear, emphasize comfort, and the image you would like to project to others. Recognize that there are many combinations of other gear for the many different riding environments that motorcyclists encounter on many different rides. The comfort aspects of other gear can help reduce distractions/impairment while riding which can have an affect on mishap rates, as well as the less important/less morbid injuries (such as road rash) that occur in mishaps. A proper fitting and affixed helmet is the primary piece of riding gear that reduces Motorcycle Driver Fatality Rates.
ReturnPage edited 02.08.12