Motorcycle Collisions
MOTORCYCLE COLLISIONS
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Motorcycle riders face unique dangers that put them at greater risk than others on our roads and highways. Bikers are exposed, with nothing but a helmet and clothing to protect them in even a minor motorcycle accident. We understand the unique challenges of cases involving motorcycle accidents.
When accidents occur, motorcycles are at a distinct disadvantage compared to cars. We represent bikers hurt as a result of numerous causes of catastrophic motorcycle crashes, including driver inattentiveness, a driver who did not see a motorcyclist, a driver making a left turn in front of a motorcyclist, and a driver making an unsafe lane change in front of a motorcyclist.
Due to the exposed nature of a motorcycle, motorcycle riders easily can suffer serious injuries and death during an accident. We have provided the information below, promulgated by the Arizona Department of Transportation, to provide you with resources to safely motorcycling in Arizona.
ARIZONA MOTORCYCLE LICENSING INFORMATION
Operating a motorcycle requires special skills in addition to a thorough knowledge of traffic laws, registration and licensing requirements. See the information contained in the Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide. It provides useful information for all motorcyclists regardless of riding experience. It presents safe driving practices and techniques developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and provides information to help you obtain an Arizona motorcycle license or motorcycle endorsement. It is not intended as an official reference. The Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide is available online at www.azdot.gov or may be requested by phone: Phoenix: (602) 255-0072 Tucson: (520) 629- 9808 elsewhere in AZ: (800) 251-5866 TDD Hearing and Speech Impaired: (602) 712-3222. Please check the Motor Vehicle Division's new page at www.azdot.gov for updates.
Arizona's Driver License
Arizona issues a driver license that does not expire until age 65. However, your photo and vision test will need to be updated every 12 years. Drivers 60 and over will receive a 5-year license. Temporary residents such as out-of-state students and their family members, or military personnel and their family members may apply for a 5-year license regardless of age.
Types of Licenses
Licenses are issued by "class": M for motorcycle, G for graduated, D for operator, and A, B, C for commercial. If the class M license is combined with any other class of license, it will be added as an "endorsement" on the back of the current license.
Instruction Permits
If you are at least 15 years and 6 months of age, you may be issued a motorcycle instruction permit. With a permit you are prohibited from carrying passengers or operating a motorcycle on freeways or interstate highways or between sunset and sunrise, or at any time when there is not enough light to clearly see persons or vehicles at a distance of 500 feet. A motorcycle permit is valid for 7 months and can be renewed only one time within a 24-month period. You will be
required to retake the written test when renewing an expired motorcycle permit.
Class M
A motorcycle license or endorsement is required to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. You must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a motorcycle license or endorsement. An applicant for a motorcycle license or endorsement who is under 18 must have held an Arizona instruction permit for at least 6 months. The permit must be valid at the time of application. An applicant must also have satisfactorily completed a motorcycle driver education program that is
approved by MVD, or the parent or guardian must certify in writing that the applicant has completed at least 30 hours of motorcycle driving practice. An applicant who is 16 years old or older and is holding an out-of-state motorcycle license or endorsement is exempt from the driver education/driving practice and instruction permit requirements.
Class G with an Endorsement
A graduated driver license with a motorcycle endorsement is issued to an applicant who is at least 16, but less than 18 years of age and is valid to operate any vehicle that does not require a commercial license. The applicant must have held both an Arizona graduated instruction permit and an Arizona motorcycle instruction permit for at least 6 months. The permits must be valid at the time of application. An applicant must also have satisfactorily completed both a graduated and a motorcycle driver education program approved by MVD or the parent or guardian must certify in writing that the applicant has either completed at least 30 hours of supervised driving practice, or has successfully completed a certified motorcycle safety course.
Class D with an Endorsement
An operator license with a motorcycle endorsement allows you to drive any vehicle that does not require a commercial license. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for an operator license.
Class A, B or C with an Endorsement
A commercial license (CDL), with a motorcycle endorsement allows you to drive heavy-weight vehicles, 26,001 lbs. or more gross vehicle weight (GVW), vehicles capable of carrying 16 or more passengers (including the driver), or vehicles required to be placarded for hazardous material. The minimum age for a commercial driver license is 21. If you are at least 18, you may apply for an intrastate commercial driver license that is valid only in Arizona. For additional
information, see the Commercial Driver License Manual, available online at www.azdot.gov.
Restrictions
If you test with a 100cc or less motorcycle, you will receive a “J” restriction. You must test with a motorcycle greater than 100cc to obtain an unrestricted license.
Test
MVD is responsible for screening and testing driver license applicants. This helps the ensure that Arizona drivers have the necessary knowledge and ability to safely handle the vehicles they will be driving.
Medical Screening
Assisted by the Arizona Medical Advisory Board, MVD has established medical standards for driver licensing. Several questions regarding your medical condition are included on the driver license application. You must report to MVD any medical conditions that develop or worsen that may affect your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. This must be done within five days of a change or as soon as the condition allows. The written report must include: full name, address, date of birth, description of condition and signature. The report must be sent to: Mail Drop 818Z, Medical Review Program, PO Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001-2100; phone: 602.771.2460 fax: 623.925.9323
Vision Screening
You will be given a vision exam. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses for distance vision, be sure to wear them. You must have uncorrected vision of 20/40 or better in at least one eye in order to obtain an unrestricted license. If you cannot meet this requirement without glasses or contact lenses, you will be given a license with an “A” restriction. An “A” restriction means you must always wear your glasses or contact lenses when driving. A test of visual field will also
be given to check how far you can see to the side while keeping your eyes straight ahead. In addition, drivers who visit an MVD office for vehicle title and registration services may be required to update this vision exam.
Written Tests
When applying for your first Arizona driver license or instruction permit with a motorcycle endorsement, you must pass a written motorcycle test based on the information contained in this manual, and a separate driver license test based on the information in the Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide. The written motorcycle license examination is available in English and Spanish. If you cannot take a written test, arrangements can be made for an oral
examination. If you need an interpreter, you must provide one.
Exercises for Two and Three Wheel Motorcycles
The motorcycle skills test is a 10-15 minute demonstration of your riding ability that consists of performing maneuvers on an off-street, 30’ x 125’ closed track. See the Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide for more information on the Exercises. If you have a current out-of-state motorcycle license in your possession, and the state that issued the license requires a motorcycle skills test similar to that given by Arizona, then you normally will not be required to take the test. However, you may be required to take a test anytime that you apply for an Arizona license.
PREPARING TO RIDE
What you do before you start a trip goes a long way toward determining whether or not you’ll get where you want to go safely. Before taking off on any trip, a safe rider makes a point to:
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1. Wear the right gear.
2. Become familiar with the motorcycle.
3. Check the motorcycle equipment.
4. Be a responsible rider.
WEAR THE RIGHT GEAR
When you ride, your gear is “right” if it protects you. In any crash, you have a far better chance of avoiding serious injury if you wear:
• A DOT-compliant helmet.
• Face or eye protection.
• Protective clothing.
Helmet Use
Crashes can occur — particularly among untrained, beginning riders. And one out of every five motorcycle crashes results in head or neck injuries. Head injuries are just as severe as neck injuries — and far more common. Crash analyses show that head and neck injuries account for a majority of serious and fatal injuries to motorcyclists. Research also shows that, with few exceptions, head and neck injuries are reduced by properly wearing a quality helmet. Some riders don’t wear helmets because they think helmets will limit their view to the sides. Others wear helmets only on long trips or when riding at high speeds. But, here are some facts to consider:
• A DOT-compliant helmet lets you see as far to the sides as necessary. A study of more than 900 motorcycle crashes, where 40% of the riders wore helmets, did not find even one case in which a helmet kept a rider from spotting danger.
• Most crashes happen on short trips (less than five miles long), just a few minutes after starting out.
• Most riders are riding slower than 30 mph when a crash occurs. At these speeds, helmets can cut both the number and the severity of head injuries by half.
No matter what the speed, helmeted riders are three times more likely to survive head injuries than those not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. The single most important thing you can do to improve your chances of surviving a crash is to wear a securely-fastened, quality helmet.
Helmet Selection
There are two primary types of helmets, providing two different levels of coverage: three-quarter and full face. Whichever style you choose, you can get the most protection by making sure that the helmet:
• Is designed to meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and state standards. Helmets with a label from the Snell Memorial Foundation also give you an assurance of quality.
• Fits snugly, all the way around.
• Has no obvious defects such as cracks, loose padding or frayed straps. Whatever helmet you decide on, keep it securely fastened on your head when you ride. Otherwise, if you are involved in a crash, it’s likely to fly off your head before it gets a chance to protect you.
Eye and Face Protection
A plastic impact-resistant face shield can help protect your whole face in a crash. It also protects you from wind, dust, dirt, rain, insects and pebbles thrown up from cars ahead. These problems are distracting and can be painful. If you have to deal with them, you can’t devote your full attention to the road. Goggles protect your eyes, though they won’t protect the rest of your face like a face shield does. A windshield is not a substitute for a face shield or goggles. Most
windshields will not protect your eyes from the wind. Neither will eyeglasses or sunglasses. Glasses won’t keep your eyes from watering, and they might blow off when you turn your head while riding. To be effective, eye or face shield protection must:
• Be free of scratches.
• Be resistant to penetration.
• Give a clear view to either side.
• Fasten securely, so it does not blow off.
• Permit air to pass through, to reduce fogging.
• Permit enough room for eyeglasses or sunglasses, if needed.
Tinted eye protection should not be worn when little light is available.
Clothing
The right clothing protects you in a collision. It also provides comfort, as well as protection from heat, cold, debris and hot and moving parts of the motorcycle. It can also make you more visible to others.
• Jacket and pants should cover arms and legs completely. They should fit snugly enough to keep from flapping in the wind, yet loosely enough to move freely. Leather offers the most protection. Sturdy synthetic material provides a lot of protection as well. Wear a jacket even in warm weather to prevent dehydration. Many are designed to protect without getting you overheated, even on summer days. Some riders choose jackets and pants with rigid “body armor”
inserts in critical areas for additional protection.
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• Boots or shoes should be high and sturdy enough to cover your ankles and give them support. Soles should be made of hard, durable, slip-resistant material. Keep heels short so they do not catch on rough surfaces. Tuck in laces so they won’t catch on your motorcycle.
• Gloves allow a better grip and help protect your hands in a crash. Your gloves should be made of leather or similar durable material.
• Hearing protection reduces noise while allowing you to hear important sounds such as car horns or sirens. Long term exposure to engine and wind noise can cause permanent hearing damage even if you wear a full face helmet. Whether you choose disposable foam plugs or reusable custom molded devices, be sure you adhere to state laws regarding hearing protection.
In cold or wet weather, your clothes should keep you warm and dry, as well as protect you from injury. You cannot control a motorcycle well if you are numb. Riding for long periods in cold weather can cause severe chill and fatigue. A winter jacket should resist wind and fit snugly at the neck, wrists and waist. Good-quality rainsuits designed for motorcycle riding resist tearing apart or ballooning up at high speeds.
KNOW YOUR MOTORCYCLE
There are plenty of things on the highway that can cause you trouble. Your motorcycle should not be one of them. To make sure that your motorcycle won’t let you down:
• Start with the right motorcycle for you.
• Read the owner’s manual.
• Be familiar with the motorcycle controls.
• Check the motorcycle before every ride.
• Keep it in safe riding condition between rides.
• Avoid add-ons and modifications that make your motorcycle harder to handle.
The Right Motorcycle For You
First, make sure your motorcycle is right for you. It should “fit” you. Your feet should reach the ground while you are seated on the motorcycle, and the controls should be easy to operate. Smaller motorcycles are usually easier for beginners to operate. At a minimum, your street-legal motorcycle should have:
• Headlight, taillight and brake light
• Front and rear brakes.
• Turn signals.
• Horn.
• Two mirrors
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We at Frisby & Frisby, PLLC hope that you will enjoy many years of responsible motorcycle riding along the diverse landscapes Arizona has to offer. However, should you ever become involved in a motorcycle accident as the result of another negligent driver, give us a call and we will recuperate the compensation for your injuries that you deserve.
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