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Riding a motorcycle offers many drivers a more economical way to get around town—not to mention the chance to enjoy the freedom of the open road, the wind whipping around you. However, in order to operate your motorcycle legally, you must make sure you meet the requirements for motorcyclists in Waterford. These requirements, in accordance with state law, help protect riders and others who share the road with them. Reach out to our motorcycle accident attorneys to learn more.
Motorcycle riders must have a valid motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license in order to operate a motorcycle on the street. This endorsement requires the completion of a motorcycle safety course through the DMV or a private provider whose program meets those requirements. Drivers under 18 may require parental consent to obtain a license.
Mopeds and motor scooters, unlike motorcycles, do not require a specific motorcycle endorsement; however, the operator must have a valid driver’s license.
State law limits when Waterford motorcycle drivers can take passengers with them. For 16 and 17-year-olds, there is a six-month waiting period after obtaining their motorcycle license before they can ride with a passenger. Individuals 18 and older must wait until 30 days after they get their license to drive with a passenger.
Waterford motorcycle requirements do not include helmet use for riders over 18. It does, however, require 16 and 17-year-olds to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle. While state law may not require helmet use, wearing a motorcycle helmet substantially reduces the risk of multiple types of injury, including head, neck, and facial injuries. Motorcycle helmet use also significantly reduces the risk of death in a motorcycle accident. Lawmakers are moving toward resolutions that will require helmet use for all riders, so riders should pay careful attention to those laws.
In general, motorcycle riders in Waterford must follow the same rules of the road that other drivers have to follow. They must drive with the flow of traffic and at the speed limit, as well as adhere to all traffic signs and directions. State law also does not allow for lane splitting, or driving between two lanes of traffic on a motorcycle.
When sharing the road with motorcycles, drivers should allow the motorcycle to take up a full lane of traffic, rather than pushing the motorcycle into the side of the lane or otherwise interfering with the motorcycle’s ability to occupy that lane. This step keeps both riders and the drivers of passenger vehicles safe.
Just like drivers under 18 have restrictions on their ability to drive during certain hours, motorcycle riders under 18 cannot legally drive between 11 pm and 5 am, unless they are driving for work, school, religious, or medical reasons. These restrictions apply regardless of the type of vehicle in use.
If you have questions about the legal requirements for motorcyclists in Waterford and want to make sure that you are following all the terms of the law, or you have concerns about your next steps after an accident, a lawyer could help make sure that you understand your legal obligations and are prepared when you take to the road—and that you are ideally positioned to seek compensation for your damages, including medical costs and wage losses, following an accident. Contact Polito & Harrington today for more information.
We are committed to provide personalized attention to each and every client’s case – no matter how large or small– because that is each client’s only case. We are proud of our firm’s reputation of combining integrity and compassion with an unflinching dedication to getting the right result. We will do what we say.
