Sen. O'Connor and a constituent urge tighter motorcycle permit rules to reduce teen fatalities (S.2430)

Senator O'Connor told the Joint Committee on Transportation he supports Senate Bill S.2430 to change motorcycle-permit requirements for drivers under age 18 and introduced his constituent Vincent D'Andrea Sr. to testify about the bill’s intent and personal stakes.

Senator O'Connor said the bill would allow issuance of motorcycle permits to drivers under 18 only if the applicant (1) successfully completed a motorcycle basic rider course, (2) holds a junior operator’s license and (3) maintained a clean driving record for the preceding year without permit suspensions. “This limitation would close a dangerous loophole and prevent 16 year olds from taking motorcycles out on public roads immediately upon being issued their learner’s permit,” O'Connor said.

Vincent D'Andrea Sr. described the 2008 death of his 16-year-old son in a motorcycle crash and said he supports the bill to prevent similar tragedies. “My 16 year old son was killed on 08/01/2008...He hit a pole and died instantly,” D'Andrea said. He said dealer or family purchases can leave 16- and 17-year-olds with high-powered motorcycles and little training; he told the committee about reductions in teen-driver fatalities after expanded driver education for junior operators and argued for analogous training and waiting requirements for motorcycle permits.

Senator O'Connor and other senators noted the bill has received favorable reports from the committee in prior sessions. Testimony cited CDC data that motor-vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for teenagers and that per-mile motorcycle deaths are substantially higher than for passenger cars. Multiple law-enforcement groups and municipal officials provided letters and support, according to D'Andrea’s testimony.

The hearing transcript records supportive testimony but does not show a committee vote on S.2430 during this excerpt.