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Motorcycle training in the US
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has officially notified the Idaho Motorcycle Safety Program (Idaho STAR) that it has until the end of the year to adopt the
new MSF novice training curriculum, known as the BRC.
If Idaho STAR does not comply the MSF has indicated it will withdraw official MSF recognition of the Idaho Motorcycle Safety
Program. Known as "Rider Education Recognition Program" or RERP, this MSF designation impacts a state program's access to dealer loaned equipment and insurance.
The
Idaho Motorcycle Safety Program is currently using the long-standing curriculum (MRC-RSS). Furthermore, in what it considers a violation of MSF intellectual property, MSF
will prohibit the
Idaho Motorcycle Safety Program from reproducing or distributing any MRC-RSS materials even though the Idaho STAR program purchased these materials. Asked for comment; Ron Shepard,
Coordinator Motorcycle Safety Programs (Idaho STAR)
stated; "It is interesting that the MSF would take such a heavy handed approach to the use of a curriculum that has been state of
the art for 20 years.
In this era of tightened budgets, meeting the demand and doing more with less, threatening to disrupt the training of a state is not serving the needs of the
stakeholders." Jay Jackson, MRF Director of Motorcycle Safety observed; "I resent that so many resources are being expended to determine who will deliver rider education. In the end
the actual delivery is affected."
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) has learned that the Oregon Traffic Safety Committee met on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 and approved all
components of the motorcycle rider-training curriculum developed by TEAM OREGON, with the exception of their experienced course.
As of January 1, 2005 the TEAM OREGON program will be the only curriculum approved
for use in the state of Oregon. Called the TEAM OREGON Motorcycle Safety Program (TOMS), the approved
program includes novice, intermediate and advanced courses. It is anticipated that the TEAM OREGON experienced course will be added by year's end. The MRF has also learned that the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has sent a letter to Oregon State University, alleging that the TEAM OREGON motorcycle rider-training curriculum represents an infringement of MSF
intellectual property.
This letter was sent prior to Tuesday's Oregon Traffic Safety Committee meeting. Further, ODOT officials anticipate that the MSF or other programs may
request approval of curricula other than TEAM OREGON's to qualify for waivers for graduates of other courses, allowing
motorcycle endorsements to be issued by those other programs in
place of successful completion of the TEAM OREGON program or testing by the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.
ODOT indicates that the Oregon Traffic Safety Committee will consider
any such requests, taking into consideration recommendations offered by the Oregon Governor's Advisory Committee on Motorcycle Safety and Oregon motorcyclists.
The MRF is aware
Latus Harley-Davidson/Buell filed just such a waiver petition late last year for their Rider's Edge program. ODOT denied Latus' request to obtain certification as an approved
motorcycle safety program and denied their petition to allow their Rider's Edge
completion cards to be accepted in lieu of Oregon State DMV endorsement tests.
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