Motorcycle Safety Information
The information below regarding motorcycle safety education and licensing procedures may be found in the Curriculum and Administrative Guide for Driver Education in Virginia, 2001.
CODE OF VIRGINIA § 22.1-205
Driver education programs
A. The Board of Education shall establish for the public school system a standardized program of driver education in the safe operation of motor vehicles. Such program shall consist of classroom training and behind-the-wheel driver training. However, any student who participates in such a program of driver education shall meet the academic requirements established by the Board, and no student in a course shall be permitted to operate a motor vehicle without a license or permit to do so issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The program shall include instruction concerning (i) alcohol and drug abuse, (ii) aggressive driving, and (iii) motorcycle awareness. Such instruction shall be developed by the Department in cooperation with the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. Such program shall require a minimum number of miles driven during the behind-the-wheel driver training.
Motorcycle Permits Virginia began offering a motorcycle learner's permit on January 1, 1999. This learner's permit allows the student to operate a motorcycle: one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset; and under the immediate supervision of a person licensed to operate a motorcycle who is 21 years of age or older, or by his/her parent or legal guardian, or by a brother, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, or stepsister 18 years of age or older. Motorcycle learner permit holders may not: operate on limited access highways; and carry a passenger. When the motorcycle permit expires, a permittee who has submitted an application, paid the application fee, and successfully completed the examinations, may be issued another twelve-month motorcycle learner’s permit. The Department of Motor Vehicles will deposit three dollars of each motorcycle registration and all motorcycle driver’s license endorsement fees into the Motorcycle Rider Safety Training Program Fund.
Motorcycle License Students with a valid Virginia driver's license may add a Class M endorsement to operate a motorcycle. To add the Class M endorsement, the student must pass the motorcycle knowledge and skills tests, plus a vision exam. The motorcycle endorsement costs $2 per year, and is valid for the same period as his/her driver's license. Instead of a Class M endorsement, students may obtain a driver's license that allows them to operate only a motorcycle. To obtain this driver's license they must provide proof of completion of an approved driver education course, pass the motorcycle knowledge and skills test, and a vision exam. The motorcycle-only driver's license costs $3.40 per year and is valid for 5 years.
Licensing Fees
A copy of an individual’s driver or vehicle record is available on-line, at a DMV branch office, or by writing to DMV. The charge for the record is $6. If the record needs to be certified, an additional $5 fee is required. A 5-year history of the driving record is sent to an insurance company; a 7-year history is sent for employment purposes; and, if a reason is not specified, DMV will provide an 11-year driving history. DMV has expanded its fee discount program to vehicle registration renewals conducted by Internet, telephone and fax, as well as driver's license renewals conducted by Internet. Beginning July 1, 2000, annual vehicle registration and driver's license Internet renewals will be reduced by $1. The same $1 discount for annual vehicle registration will be given for renewals conducted on DMV’s touch-tone telephone system or sent in by fax or mail. Customers who renew their vehicle registrations for two years by Internet, phone, fax, or mail will receive a $3 discount.
Learner's permits The Department, on receiving from any Virginia resident over the age of fifteen years and six months an application for a learner's permit or motorcycle learner's permit, may, subject to the applicant's satisfactory documentation of meeting the requirements of this chapter and successful completion of the written or automated knowledge and vision examinations and, in the case of a motorcycle learner's permit applicant, the automated motorcycle test, issue a permit entitling the applicant, while having the permit in his immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle or, if the application is made for a motorcycle learner's permit, a motorcycle, on the highways, when accompanied by any licensed driver twenty-one years of age or older or by his parent or legal guardian, or by a brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother, or step-sister eighteen years of age or older. The accompanying person shall be (i) alert, able to assist the driver, and actually occupying a seat beside the driver or, for motorcycle instruction, providing immediate supervision from a separate accompanying motorcycle and (ii) lawfully permitted to operate the motor vehicle or accompanying motorcycle at that time.
A. The Department shall not, however, issue a learner's permit or motorcycle learner's permit to any minor applicant required to provide evidence of compliance with the compulsory school attendance law set forth in Article 1 (§ 22.1-254 et seq.) of Chapter 14 of Title 22.1, unless such applicant is in good academic standing or, if not in such standing or submitting evidence thereof, whose parent or guardian, having custody of such minor, provides written authorization for the minor to obtain a learner's permit or motorcycle learner's permit, which written authorization shall be obtained on forms provided by the Department and indicating the Commonwealth's interest in the good academic standing and regular school attendance of such minors. Any minor providing proper evidence of the solemnization of his marriage or a certified copy of a court order of emancipation shall not be required to provide the certification of good academic standing or any written authorization from his parent or guardian to obtain a learner's permit or motorcycle learner's permit. Such permit, except a motorcycle learner's permit, shall be valid until the holder thereof either is issued a driver's license as provided for in this chapter or no longer meets the qualifications for issuance of a learner's permit as provided in this section. Motorcycle learner's permits shall be valid for twelve months. When a motorcycle learner's permit expires, the permittee may, upon submission of an application, payment of the application fee, and successful completion of the examinations, be issued another motorcycle learner's permit valid for twelve months.
B. No driver's license shall be issued to any such person who is less then eighteen years old unless, while holding a learner's permit, he has driven a motor vehicle for at least forty hours, at least ten of which were after sunset, as certified by his parent or legal guardian unless the person is married or otherwise emancipated.
C. No learner's permit shall authorize its holder to operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is less than eighteen years old, except when participating in a driver education program approved by the Department of Education or a course offered by a commercial driver training school licensed by the Department. This passenger limitation, however, shall not apply to the driver's family or household as defined in subsection B of § 46.2-334.01.
No holder of a learner's permit or motorcycle learner's permit shall be allowed to take the behind-the-wheel examination administered by the Department more than three times in any three-month period. Any violation of this section shall be punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
§ 46.2-335.2. Learner's permits; required before driver's license; minimum holding period
Effective July 1,1996, no person under the age of eighteen years shall be eligible to receive a driver's license pursuant to § 46.2-334 unless the Department has previously issued such person a learner's permit pursuant to § 46.2-335 and such person has satisfied the minimum holding period requirements set forth in subsection B, or unless such person is the holder of a valid driver's license from another state and qualifies for a temporary license under subdivision 3 of § 46.2-334. However, persons under the age of eighteen years to whom the Department has issued a learner's permit prior to July 1, 1996, shall not be subject to the minimum holding period requirements set forth in subsection B before obtaining a driver's license pursuant to § 46.2-334. Effective July 1, 2001, any person under the age of eighteen years issued a learner's permit pursuant to § 46.2-335 shall hold such permit for a minimum period of nine months or until he reaches the age of eighteen years, whichever occurs first. That the provisions of this act increasing the minimum age for applicants for Virginia driver's licenses to sixteen years and three months shall not apply to applicants to whom Virginia learner's permits were issued prior to July 1, 2001. That the Department of Motor Vehicles shall make five annual reports to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Transportation Committees, summarizing accident rates and associated injuries and fatalities involving persons between the ages of fifteen and nineteen during the preceding year. The first such report shall be made prior to the 2003 Session of the General Assembly.
Motorcycle Learner’s Permit
You must pass the knowledge test. If you do not currently hold a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license, you must also pass the driver’s license knowledge test. This learner’s permit allows you to operate a motorcycle between one half hour after sunrise and one half hour before sunset. In other words, you may operate the motorcycle only during daylight hours. You are not allowed on limited access highways, such as interstate highways. You must wear an approved safety helmet. You must be supervised by a person at least 21 years old who is licensed to operate a motorcycle or your parent, legal guardian, or sibling. No one, other than the operator, can be on the motorcycle.
Motorcycle Driver’s License
If you wish to operate a motorcycle in Virginia, you must pass the motorcycle knowledge and skills tests. If you already hold a driver’s license, you may add a class M to your license. You may obtain a driver’s license with a class M that only allows you to operate a motorcycle.
Vehicle Inspection
All motor vehicles registered in Virginia, including motorcycles, motor scooters, and mopeds must be inspected each year by an official motor vehicle inspection station.
Prohibited Equipment Certain equipment is considered unsafe and therefore not allowed:
Vehicle Registration
When a nonresident owner or operator establishes residency in Virginia or enters into gainful employment, his vehicle may be operated for 30 days thereafter, after which time the vehicle must be currently registered in Virginia. The valid inspection sticker indicates that, at the time of inspection, the vehicle had working brakes, safety belts, horn, lights, turn signals, mirrors, and speedometer. A new resident desiring to register his vehicle must obtain a new Virginia vehicle inspection certificate and verification of the vehicle identification number by a state-approved vehicle inspection station prior to registration. The vehicle owner will then be provided the necessary form for processing the vehicle registration. Evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle being registered must be presented at the time of registration. If evidence of financial responsibility is not presented, then the vehicle cannot be registered. A new Virginia resident must register every vehicle that he owns before applying for a Virginia driver’s license. The registration receipt issued by the county tax assessor-collector for each vehicle will be acceptable proof of registration when applying for a Virginia driver’s license.
Driving two abreast in a single lane A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to be abreast of another vehicle in a lane designed for one vehicle, or drives any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, so as to travel abreast of any other vehicle traveling in a lane designed for one vehicle. However, this section shall not apply to any validly authorized parade, motorcade, or motorcycle escort, nor shall it apply to a motor vehicle traveling in the same lane of traffic as a bicycle or moped.
Racing; penalty Any person who engages in a race between two or more motor vehicles on the highways in the Commonwealth or on any driveway or premises of a church, school, recreational facility, or business property open to the public in the Commonwealth shall be guilty of reckless driving, unless authorized by the owner of the property or his agent. When any person is convicted of reckless driving under this section, in addition to any other penalties provided by law the driver’s license of such person shall be suspended by the court for a period of not less than six months nor more than two years. In case of conviction the court shall order the surrender of the license to the court.
Racing; seizure of motor vehicle If the owner of a motor vehicle is convicted of racing such vehicle in a prearranged, organized, and planned speed competition, or is present in the vehicle which is being operated by another, and knowingly consents to the racing, the vehicle shall be seized. The penalties imposed by these sections are in addition to any other penalty imposed by law.
§ 46.2-870 Maximum speed limits generally Except as otherwise provided in this article, the maximum speed limit shall be fifty-five miles per hour on interstate highways or other limited access highways with divided roadways, nonlimited access highways having four or more lanes, and all state primary highways. The maximum speed limit on all other highways shall be fifty-five miles per hour if the vehicle is a passenger motor vehicle, bus, pickup or panel truck, or a motorcycle, but forty-five miles per hour on such highways if the vehicle is a truck, tractor truck, or combination of vehicles designed to transport property or is a motor vehicle being used to tow a vehicle designed for self-propulsion or a house trailer. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the maximum speed limits on (i) highways constructed pursuant to the Virginia Highway Corporation Act of 1988, (ii) those rural interstate highways where both (a) permitted by federal laws and (b) indicated by lawfully placed signs, and (iii) other limited access highways in any county having a population of at least 45,700 but no more than 45,800, where indicated by lawfully placed signs, shall be sixty-five miles per hour.
Maximum speed limits at school crossings; penalty The maximum speed limit shall be twenty-five miles per hour between portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs placed in or along any highway and bearing the word “school” or “school crossing.”
§ 46.2-874 Maximum speed limit in business and residence districts The maximum speed shall be twenty-five miles per hour on highways in business or residential districts, except on interstate or other limited access highways with divided roadways.
§ 46.2-875 Maximum speed limit on certain other highways in cities and towns The maximum speed limit shall be thirty-five miles per hour on highways in any city or town, except on interstate or other limited access highways with divided roadways and in business or residence districts.
Minimum speed limits No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.
Following distance is critical on the expressway. It is important to try to maintain a 3-4 second following distance. Keeping a space cushion to at least one side of your vehicle gives an escape route if the lane ahead becomes blocked. Also, try to maintain at least a 2-second space to the rear of your vehicle by controlling space to the front. Increase following distance when following large trucks, buses, or motorcycles, or when driving in bad weather, being tailgated, or entering/exiting the expressway.
Motorcycles Motorcycles are small vehicles that accelerate quickly. Danger exists because the motorcyclist is exposed and is offered no protection should a collision occur. To stop a motorcycle, the motorcyclist must operate separate brakes for front and rear wheels. A motorcyclist must coordinate the hand throttle, hand clutch, and front gearshift lever to accelerate smoothly. Unlike four-wheel vehicles, a motorcycle might have difficulty remaining upright when stationary or in motion. When near a motorcyclist, increase following distance. When being followed by a motorcycle, check the rear-view mirror often. Be aware of following motorcyclists and avoid making sudden stops. A motorcyclist cannot cope with adverse weather conditions as well as a four-wheel vehicle can. Remember this and increase the space around motorcyclists in bad weather.
Why Don’t Drivers See Motorcyclists? There are several reasons why drivers may not see the motorcyclist coming: Motorists tend to look for other cars, not for motorcyclists. The profile of a motorcycle is much smaller than the profile of larger vehicles. Motorcycle riding requires frequent lane movements to adjust to changing road conditions.
What are the Situations When Motorcycle-Related Accidents are Most Likely to Occur? Accidents are most likely to occur in these high-risk situations:
For additional information about motorcycle safety click the following: Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Also, check out section one page seven and section three pages ten and eleven in the Virginia Driver's Manual, 2001-2002.