Joy of Motorcycling Traffic School: A New Choice for Motorists Who Receive a Traffic Citation in San Diego County SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA Beginning June 1, 2005, the San Diego County Superior Court’s list of approved traffic schools will now include “Joy of Motorcycling Traffic School” the first and only traffic school in California dedicated to motorcycle safety and awareness. “Our specialized curriculum offers both riders and non-riders an opportunity to learn about and discuss traffic safety issues such as ‘lane-splitting’ and defensive techniques on how to reduce risk between two- and four-wheeled vehicles,” says owner, Joy Medved. No other traffic school covers motorcycle awareness and traffic safety in the same depth and with the level of expertise found at Joy of Motorcycling Traffic School. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), California has the highest motorcycle fatality rate with approximately 10% of all motorcycle deaths in the nation. 30% of those motorcycle fatalities in California do not even have a valid motorcycle license. Although Joy of Motorcycling Traffic School is not a riding school, the 8-hour Traffic Violator School classroom curriculum offers practical insight on a number of motorcycle and traffic safety topics to help reduce risk and crash potential between two- and four-wheeled vehicles. Medved hopes that a motorcycle-oriented traffic school will help decrease motorcycle fatalities and take California off the top of the list. The idea of a motorcycle traffic school was conceived by Medved during her nine-month recovery from a hit-and-run motorcycle crash, April 1, 2000, when she was struck by a van making a left turn. After recovering from broken bones, a major concussion, and a collapsed lung, Medved dedicated herself to promoting motorcycle safety full time. Medved is a riding instructor, teaches motorcycle safety seminars, has been a guest speaker at a number of local motorcycle club meetings and rallies, and also teaches women riders how to pick up their motorcycle using her 1,000 pound GL1800 Honda Goldwing. Since Joy of Motorcycling Traffic School is DMV-licensed, motorists may attend classes in San Diego regardless of where in California a citation is received. Additionally, it is not required that the citation be received while riding a motorcycle, or by a motorist with a motorcycle license. Motorists must be traffic school-eligible as determined by the court and not have attended traffic school within the past 18 months. All classes are taught by experienced motorcycle riders with backgrounds in rider instruction and traffic safety. More information is available online at ~http://www.joyofmotorcycling.com~