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Moto traffic school?

DataDan

DataDan

Mama says he's bona fide
Joined
Feb 8, 2003
Location
San Luis Obispo
Moto(s)
Yamaha FJR1300
Name
Dan
I had this idea about 20 years ago, after a CHP officer had criticized some riding choices I made when I took my RC30 up to Berryessa on the first dry day after weeks of El Nino rain. Why not, I wondered, combine the MSF Experienced Rider Course with traffic school?

Now a bill has been introduced that would authorize CMSP to offer traffic school with moto content. From the legislature website:

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1932, Obernolte. Vehicles: motorcycle safety training.

Existing law provides for the licensing and administration by the Department of Motor Vehicles of traffic violator schools, operators, and instructors. Existing law authorizes the Director of Motor Vehicles to prescribe rules and regulations for traffic violator schools regarding the conduct of courses of education, including curriculum, facilities, and equipment.

Existing law establishes a motorcyclist safety program, administered by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to adopt standards for course content, contact hours, curriculum, instructor training and testing, and instructional quality control for a novice rider training course and a premier motorcyclist safety training program.

This bill would authorize a motorcyclist safety training program that is licensed as a traffic violator school to administer a motorcyclist training course, and would authorize the course to include instruction specific to the safe and lawful operation of motorcycles in addition to the curriculum prescribed by the department for traffic violator schools.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 11223 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

11223. A motorcyclist safety training program established pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 2930) of Chapter 5 of Division 2, that is licensed by the department as a traffic violator school, may administer a motorcyclist training course. In addition to the curriculum prescribed by the department pursuant to Section 11219, the motorcyclist training course may include instruction specific to the safe and lawful operation of motorcycles in accordance with Section 2932.
​
It would mean additional bureaucracy for sites and instructors providing the class, but maybe some extra revenue, too. And I do see it as an opportunity to reach motorcyclists who could use a nudge in the direction of more sensible riding.

Any comments? I'd be particularly interested in what instructors and CMSP site owners think.
 
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(I'm not an instructor)

traffic school is a joke for most...if the moto-related material isn't required for every traffic school participant then it does the general population no good. Most motorcyclists know the rules and just break them anyway.

I have bookmarked a traffic school that I can complete in 22 minutes from start to finish that I've used successfully several times over the years.

Good on them if this is a push to include moto laws in ALL traffic school programs. I will stand behind that so EVERYONE is informed equally regarding the laws/practices.
 
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My instructor license will come with the next box of cereal. I'll comment then.
 
Marcoose said:
My instructor license will come with the next box of cereal. I'll comment then.
Click to expand...

you imply a motorcycle instructor license is trivial, is that a blanket statement about all motorcycle schools or would you like to clarify?
 
Back about 1990, when I had the opportunity to take traffic school in California for the first time, there was one called Motorcycle Traffic School. About half of those in attendance were riders and the rest were the type of people you would meet at any other traffic school. It covered all of the stuff that the non-moto guys needed, but also had a lot of useful stuff for the riders, as well as helping make the others more aware of motorcycle issues.

I enjoyed that one more than any other I've attended. I've only done one online - in 2009 - and it was a bit of a joke. I'm surprised that you can get traffic school credit for an online school.
 
I don't think that it is possible to teach what is most important, in a school setting.

Can they teach how to safely test your traction? I test mine all the time.
I know what I have to work with.

I know what the variables of speed in the corners and application of brakes do.
And don't exceed those factors.

When someone says they "low sided" That is such a nice way of saying, they were oblivious, hadn't a clue, simply didn't know enough.

On the public road anyway... Heat of competition on a race track, is something else. (maybe)
 
Smash Allen said:
you imply a motorcycle instructor license is trivial, is that a blanket statement about all motorcycle schools or would you like to clarify?
Click to expand...

Dan wants comments from instructors. I was just letting him know my license is coming, and like yours, my subsequent posts won't be of much value.

As for being trivial, it depends. Online "classes" are all but worthless. Like madsen203 posted above, you can "learn" a great deal about riding in 22 minutes flat. You know what you get for that. Then there are real instructors varying from the MSF guys that taught me stuff years ago to Keith Code. I'm confident it isn't trivial, but I haven't personally seen the requirements.

Now, it's peculiar to start a thread on BARF, of all places perhaps the most full of opinionated wankers (like yours truly), and request for the dozen or so resident licensed instructors to comment. I chuckled when I saw that.
 
So the way I understand it now, there are multiple online traffic school choices. Granted they have to be recognized by the State of California. This new legislation would simply certify CMSP as an additional choice, or would they become the only choice?

I get your point about it being an "opportunity to reach motorcyclists who could use a nudge in the direction of more sensible riding." But, for me, the last time I had to do traffic school for a moto ticket... I looked at all the current certified online choices and chose the one that required the least amount of time, and then found a way to reduce the amount of time even further. For me, it's about time.

I'd be irritated if the online choice was removed and I was required to attend a full day, or more of rider training. :dunno
 
DReg350 said:
I'd be irritated if the online choice was removed and I was required to attend a full day, or more of rider training.
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All the bill seems to say--in my non-lawyer view--is that IF CMSP were to become a certified traffic school, they could administer traffic school that includes moto content along with the normal traffic school curriculum.

It doesn't seem to require CMSP, sites, instructors, or performance award recipients to do anything.
 
Seems like it's more of a PLUS for CMSP as they expand their reach in the business and not much of a plus for riders/drivers awareness. I imagine too it would be more expensive than those online classes mentioned.

Agree with above poster about TIME. now... if they eliminated all online courses all together--sure I'd be inclined to take the CMSP classes over others but alas that isn't in the foreseeable future.

Also, these schools are about teaching laws not skill sets or anything worthwhile. "How fast to drive in a school zone..what does parking in a yellow zone mean...?"

I take it as a money grab rather than a support structure at this point. Maybe they know that the online schools will lose accreditation and then they will have a strong foothold.
 
I think the cost would be the prohibitive part. Even a 1 day course for riding is usually $200 and up. That is a hefty addition to a fine already being paid.

Now if the court offered a *reduction* in fines if the offender showed proof that they spent that money on a qualified CMSP course, it may prove useful. Otherwise I don't see it being feasible. Currently the schools doing CMSP course are being run on a pretty tight budget as it is.
 
madsen203 said:
http://www.inadaytrafficschool.com/

you're welcome.

PS: Just skip to the quizzes. If you fail, write down/learn correct answer and retake. Each quiz takes 1-2 minutes and the final exam is maybe 3-4 minutes.
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Hey that looks pretty cheap, cool and easy! Question: can I just sign up, and take the test now; get it out of the way in anticipation of Hawthorne?
 
DReg350 said:
Hey that looks pretty cheap, cool and easy! Question: can I just sign up, and take the test now; get it out of the way in anticipation of Hawthorne?
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:ROFL

Cheap is right! If you do the dirty work it's $14. If you have them do the work it's about $25-30.

I imagine they would want your citation number up front. Though...maybe you can show it to the officer that you already know it all and are just a hooligan practicing the "wheelie for safety" motto.
 
madsen203 said:
:ROFL

Cheap is right! If you do the dirty work it's $14. If you have them do the work it's about $25-30.

I imagine they would want your citation number up front. Though...maybe you can show it to the officer that you already know it all and are just a hooligan practicing the "wheelie for safety" motto.
Click to expand...

Cool! Would this work?
 

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When I last discussed this with Lee Parks, the traffic school would be the Intermediate Riding Clinic.

Thus, a judge can order a speeding motorcycle rider to attend actual motorcycle training.

The IRC is an 8 hour class.
 
instructors license

Marcoose said:
My instructor license will come with the next box of cereal. I'll comment then.
Click to expand...

Debating getting my box of cereal license too...
I only need 4 more box tops from count chocula, but I have to wait until October when the start showing up in target again.:teeth
Until then I have to reserve comment or stay in a holiday inn express overnight.
But seriously, anything to make ssomeone think twice about riding like a moron is well worth the time spent.
All it takes is that one moment or realization to change someone's thought process.
 
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