IMPROVED MOTORCYCLIST LICENSING AND TESTING PROJECT

In 1975, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) a contract to determine if an improved licensing system would be effective in reducing motorcycle accident rates for novice motorcyclists. An improved knowledge test, improved skill test (known as most), and an on-cycle remedial training program were developed by the National Public Services Research Institute (NPSRI) in association with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), under contract to NHTSA. The California motorcycle licensing demonstration project, called the improved motorcyclist licensing and testing project, had four specific objectives. It was to demonstrate that 1) the improved licensing system would result in a lower accident rate for novice motorcyclists; 2) the efficacy of public acceptance of a more rigid motorcyclist testing program which included a higher failure rate and was conducted at a regional facility; 3) a state motor vehicle department could administer a licensing program which included special remedial skills training for applicants who did not pass the skill test; 4) there was cost-effectiveness in administering an improved licensing system. The improved motorcyclist licensing and testing project utilized three licensing systems: Group A--received the California licensing system used at that time; Group B--received the improved licensing system, plus a three-hour remedial training program in the event of a failure on the first skill test attempt; Group C--received only the improved licensing system (a). The number of the covering abstract of the conference is TRIS no 362131. (TRRL)