Internationally Recognized Motorcycle Experts Offer 21 Ideas to Save Lives Panel Publishes Report on The State and Future of U.S. Motorcycle Rider Training (Columbia, MD) – With the publication of a new report today, a panel of advanced rider training experts have contributed their expertise in an effort to make U.S. motorcycle training more effective and more successful at reducing injuries and death. The report, The State and Future of U.S. Rider Training, presents their experienced-based ideas. Last March, The Rider School at Howard Community College convened 15 of cycling’s top authors, advanced trainers, insurance experts, and noted researchers for a two-day experts’ panel on how to reduce motorcycle crashes and injuries. The ground-breaking event marked the first time internationally acclaimed experts in advanced training had been gathered and tasked to consider how to improve beginner and street rider training. During the two-day meeting, the group developed 21 specific recommendations for improving motorcycle training, detailed in the new report, including: * increasing opportunities for new riders to learn on dirt before riding on pavement, * an enhanced focus on student understanding of motorcycle handling dynamics (rather than just of operating controls), * plans for expanded development of alternatives to traditional licensing training, * strategies for better use of experts in instructional design, and * ideas for improved marketing and promotion of safe riding messages. Through the report, the panel hopes to broaden the discussion about rider safety and to influence public awareness and public policy about riders and rider training. Organizers were invited to present the findings at the annual 2011 State Motorcycle Safety Administrators Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to The Rider School, underwriting sponsors included US Insurance Services, The National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators, and Cape Fox Professional Services. A full PDF copy of the report (including an executive summary and list of recommendations) can be found at ~http://coned.howardcc.edu/motorcycle_safety/PDFdocs/The_State_and_Future_of_US_Motorcycle_Training_2011.pdf~. (short link: ~http://bit.ly/rsYfJ6~) A list of panelists and sponsors is attached. The Rider School at Howard Community College is a leading provider of motorcycle instruction in the Mid-Atlantic region and one of the few schools nationwide that offers a full range of classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced rider training. For more information on the School, visit http://riderschool.org. For more information about the report and its creation, contact Jim Schmidt, Rider School director, at 443-518-4186; email [email protected]. Panelists Janice Bagley Designer of insurance programs for riding schools around the country, for US Insurance, including street, dirt, advanced and police training. Bobbie Carlson Director of Curriculum Services at Cape Fox Professional Services. Cape Fox is the leading provider of traffic and motorcycle safety training for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Cape Fox has trained over 200,000 military personnel in hands-on motorcycle training classes and classroom traffic safety behavior modification classes. Dylan Code International provider of advanced rider training in countries like Australia, India, Japan, Dubai, England, South Africa and Guam. Teaches riders and coaches at California Superbike School locations worldwide Keith Code Founder of the California Superbike School and the world’s highest selling author of motorcycle riding books including A Twist of the Wrist. Retired professional road racer Dirk Collins Project Manager for the U.S. Marine Corp’s Semper Ride Program and a project manager for the U.S. Military’s Military Rider Program. Blair Fox National Sales Manager for Assurant Property Specialty and member Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition Peter Hill Senior Safety Engineer for the U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters, Senior Executive Fellow, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Chris Johnson Owner of Washington Motorcycle Safety Training. Advanced riding trainer in England. Creator of the On Street Course, and former amateur road racer Andrew Krajewski Chairperson of the National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators and Director for Driver Safety at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Gary LaPlante CEO of Motoventures, Inc, former Arizona champion and nationally ranked motorcycle trials rider, former Kawasaki test rider, and Honda engineer Tracy Martin Vice president of Total Control Training. Co-author of the Total Control Advanced Rider Course, co-author of Motorcycling Safety Foundation’s Guide to Motorcycling Excellence, motorcycle print journalist Jim Ouellet Researcher in the seminal 1975 Hurt Study “Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures.” Has published over 40 scientific papers on injury, protective gear, alcohol-impairment, and accident investigation and testified before the U.S. Senate Jim Schmidt Founder and Director of The Rider School at Howard Community College Jeff Tilton Producer of “Semper Ride,” a movie for U.S. Marine Corps motorcycle riders, and veteran professional motocross racer Steve Zarbatany CEO of Motorcycle Training Institute, one of the largest rider training schools in the nation and an MSF Sponsor of the Year. Developer of the Rider Education Management System, an MIS specifically aimed at rider training. Sponsors U.S. Insurance Services One of the nation’s leading insurance providers for motorcycle riders and the motorcycle training industry, covering all types of instruction for diverse organizations for over 30 years National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators A national nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs and interests of state motorcycle safety administrators and programs by advocating motorcycle safety and fostering and promoting the exchange of ideas and resources. Cape Fox Professional Services Cape Fox is the leading provider of traffic and motorcycle safety training for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Cape Fox has trained over 200,000 military personnel in hands-on motorcycle training classes and classroom traffic safety behavior modification classes. The Rider School at Howard Community College The Rider School is a leading provider of motorcycle instruction in the Mid-Atlantic region, and one of the few schools nationwide that offers a full range of classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced rider training.