Over the past decade, in an effort to reduce collisions involving new drivers, including those who operate motorcycles, several jurisdictions in North America have implemented a new system of licensing called graduated driver licensing. The system phases in on-road driving, allowing beginners to gain their initial experience under conditions that are less risky. This is accomplished through a multistage licensing program that includes two key components: an extended learners stage, during which driving is only permitted under supervision (usually for a period of six months or more); followed by an intermediate state of unsupervised driving that is restricted to low risk conditions - e.g., driving alone only during the day, having a zero BAC. This report describes graduated motorcycle licensing programs in place, or currently being considered, in Canada and the United States as well as other restrictive measures that have been applied in motorcycle licensing systems in several U.S. states. These programs typically apply to new applicants for a motorcycle licence, who do not have a licence to operate a car. These applicants are novices in two respects: they are inexperienced at operating a motorcycle, which is more demanding than a car, and they have no other driving experience. The report also considers the safety value of graduated licensing for novice motorcyclists. It discusses the scientific evidence on the safety benefits of different licensing programs targeting novice motorcyclists and examines available crash data to address this issue. (Author/publisher)
Abstract