Page 8 - Georgia Motorcycle Operators Manual 2020

1SECTION : MOTORCYCLE RIDER LICENSING
you to print a custom Checklist or the full list of
acceptable documents. Please follow the links on
the DDS website (dds.georgia.gov) to create the
Checklist of your choice.
Different Types of Vehicles
When looking at different types of motorcycles
or motor-driven cycles, you will see the term “cc”
along with a number: 250cc, 500cc, 750cc. The
“cc” is an abbreviation for cubic centimeter, the
volume of fuel mixed with air that powers motor-
cycles. Road-legal motorcycles, scooters, and even
mopeds can have engines ranging from 50cc to
more than 2,000cc. A motorcycle with a higher cc
will weigh more and therefore have more power
and be able to move more weight at faster speeds.
Motorcycles
Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the
use of the rider, is controlled by handlebars, and
designed to travel on not more than three wheels
in contact with the ground, but excluding a trac-
tor and moped (with engine size not exceeding
50cc), is defined as a motorcycle. Georgia law
places all types of motorcycles (including scoot-
ers, motorbikes and mini-bikes with engine size
51cc or greater) into one classification. All are con-
sidered motor-driven cycles. A Class M License or
a Class M Instructional Permit (MP) is required
to legally operate a motorcycle or motor-driven
cycle in Georgia.
Mopeds
A moped is defined as any motor driven cycle
with an engine not exceeding 50cc (3.05 cubic
inches). Mopeds are exempt from the provisions
relating to the registration and licensing of motor
vehicles.
Rules to operate mopeds on Georgia roads
and highways:
1. Must be at least 15 years of age and possess a
valid driver’s license, instructional permit or
limited permit.
2. Must wear protective headgear (U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation (DOT) compliant
motorcycle helmet).
3. No tag is required.
4. Must obey the same traffic laws governing
drivers of motor vehicles.
5. May not use limited access highways or other
roadways where the minimum speed limit is
above 35 mph.
1.2 – Required Motorcycle
License Tests
Safe riding requires knowledge and skill.
Licensing tests are the best measurement of the
basic skills necessary to operate safely in traffic.
Assessing your own skills is not enough. People
often over-estimate their own abilities. It’s even
harder for friends and relatives to be totally
honest about your skills. Licensing exams are
designed to be scored more objectively.
There are two ways to earn a motorcycle
license. You can take a Georgia Motorcycle
Safety Program Course where you will receive
6 2019-2020 GEORGIA MOTORCYCLE OPERATORS MANUAL
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY COURSES
All riders are also encouraged to attend a rider education You can also view rider
course which provides knowledge and hands-on-training education courses online by
before receiving a motorcycle operator’s license. scanning this QR code with
Under the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (see Table
of Contents page), you may earn a License Test Waiver your mobile device.
for your Class M Motorcycle License in the Basic Riders
Course and Basic Riders Course 2. A 90-day license test
waiver is furnished to successful graduates.
Check out the rider education courses at The Georgia
Motorcycle Safety Program at http://dds.georgia.gov/
motorcycle-safety-program.
professional training in motorcycle handling 1.3 – The Rider Skills Test
(motorcycles are provided) as well as earn a
License Test Waiver (if you successfully complete Safe motorcycle riding depends largely on
the course). your knowledge and skills. The skills for motor-
cycling require a lot of practice. If you have just
The License Test Waiver will allow you to learned to handle a motorcycle and have very
bypass the knowledge test and the on-cycle skills little riding experience, then the most important
test at a DDS Customer Service Center. See the part of learning to ride is still ahead.
section on the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Pro-
gram in this manual. You may wish to take a Georgia Motorcycle
Safety Program rider education course that offers
The other method is to apply directly at a DDS a License Test Waiver. For more information about
Customer Service Center. To earn your license, locations and schedules, visit dds.georgia.gov.
you must pass a knowledge test and an on-cycle
skills test (on your own motorcycle). You must The Rider Skills Test (RST) is used for both two-
also pass a vision test. If the vision test was wheeled (RST-2W) and three-wheeled vehicles
administered and passed during the year in (RST-3W). The following pages highlight the test-
conjunction with another license issuance, this ing patterns for both the two-wheel and three-
vision test may be waived. wheel test.
Knowledge Test – you will need to take and suc-
cessfully pass the Knowledge test. Knowledge test Both tests consist of four riding evaluations
questions are based on information, practices and that measure your control of the motorcycle and
ideas from this manual. They require that you your hazard-response skills. The final two exer-
know and understand road rules and safe riding cises involve speeds of about 15-20 miles per hour.
practices. NOTE: This requirement is waived for
applicants who have successfully completed a You will be scored on time/distance stan-
Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program License Test dards as well as path violations. The test may be
Waiver rider education course. ended early for point accumulation, committing
Rider Skills Test – you will need to take and an unsafe act, or failure to understand or follow
successfully pass an on-cycle skills test, which instructions.
consists of a series of exercises designed to dem-
onstrate your basic skills in operating a motorcy- When you report for your test:
cle. NOTE: This requirement is waived for appli- • You must have a DOT compliant helmet, eye
cants who have successfully completed a Georgia
Motorcycle Safety Program 90-Day License Test protection and closed toe footwear.
Waiver rider education course. • For safety, it is suggested that you wear long
You must furnish a motorcycle for the test and sleeves, long pants and gloves.
pass a safety inspection of the motorcycle by the • You must furnish a street-legal motor-driven
DDS license examiner before the on-cycle skills
test is given. cycle for the test and pass a safety inspection
of the motorcycle by the DDS license examiner
Basic vehicle control and crash-avoidance skills before the riding test is given.
are included to determine your ability to handle PLEASE NOTE: You have the right to can-
normal and hazardous traffic situations. cel the test at any time. Inform the DDS license
examiner that you do not wish to continue the
The on-cycle skills test is designed for single- test. The examiner will explain the conditions
track vehicles (motorcycles) and multi-track for rescheduling the test.
vehicles (motorcycles with sidecars, and three- The DDS license examiner also has the right
wheeled vehicles). Motorcycles with sidecars and to stop the test if you (a) fail to demonstrate basic
three-wheeled vehicles maneuver differently control skills, (b) accumulate more than the maxi-
than a two-wheeled single-track motorcycle. mum number of penalty points allowed, (c) com-
Vehicles outside of test standards may be required mit any unsafe act (d) fail to understand or follow
to use a car test route. Please be mindful on-cycle directions, or (e) fall from or drop the motorcycle.
testing cannot be completed in an autocycle (i.e. Finally, all testing may be suspended due to
three-wheel car-like vehicles). inclement weather, equipment failure or other
circumstances beyond the control of you or the
examiner.