2006 Annual Report

About our program:

To minimize the risk and maximize the fun of motorcycling, the Registry of Motor Vehicles sponsors the Massachusetts Riders Education Program (MREP). MREP provides training motorcycles, and / or promotional and technical assistance to a statewide network of training sites. This support enables these sites to keep their tuitions for rider education courses affordable. The RiderCoaches who teach these courses are MSF certified with additional MREP approval.

The mission of this program is to reduce the number of motorcycle related fatalities and injuries in the Commonwealth by increasing the statewide availability of Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) approved training courses for motorcycle riders and to increase awareness and education for both riders and drivers.

As of the 2006 season, eight contractors operated 12 sites:
Pioneer Valley Rider Training – Westfield, MA
SM Motorcycle School - Orange
Central MA. Safety Council – West Boylston, MA
Ironstone Ventures – Acton / Ayer, Seekonk, Charlestown and Hanscom AFB (military only)
Motorcycle Riding School – Beverly, MA
Training Wheels of New England – Brockton, Plympton and Bourne, MA.
Riders Edge – Auburn, MA
Streetwise Cycle School – Hyde Park, MA

2006 season:

We had a 93 percent pass rate in the BRC and a 95 percent pass rate for the ERC. The program has trained approximately 79,792 motorcyclists since 1990.

• 1 MREP Program Manager
• 1 MREP Program Coordinator
• 8 Site Coordinators
• 4 RiderCoach Trainers
• 105 RiderCoaches (5 of them newly trained in 2006)

Total number of registered motorcycle 2006 = 167,112
                 New registrations =
                 Renewal registrations =
Total number of motorcycle licenses issued for 2006 = 33,699
New licenses = 10,538
Renewal licenses = 23,161
Total number of motorcycle permits issued for 2006 = 22,140
Active Motorcycle Registrations:
June 2001 = 117,681 (Up almost 10 percent from 2000)
June 2002 = 127,739 (Up almost 8 percent from 2001)
June 2003 = 135,058 (Up almost 6 percent from 2002)
2004 = 142,883 (up 5 percent from 2003)
2005 = 147,506 (Up 3 percent from 2004)
2006 = 167,112 (Up almost 12%)

Total number of motorcycle fatalities for 2006 = 49
(Down almost 6 percent from 2005 which was 52)

The MREP funding comes from Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 90, Section 34: …”$2.00 from each motorcycle registration fee shall be paid by the Registrar or by the person collecting the registration fee into the general fund and shall be appropriated solely for the purpose of promoting and advancing motorcycle safety.”  The MREP also applies for and typically receives an annual federal highway safety grant through the Governor’s Highway Safety Bureau. The program's state and federal budget for the 2006 training season totaled approximately $350,853

Licensing:
The first step in the pursuit of a motorcycle license is the securing of a motorcycle permit. This is accomplished by passing a knowledge test administered by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Riding evaluations and licensure can be obtained in two ways; passing an RMV road test, or successfully passing an MREP rider education course (in which case the RMV road test requirement is waived). To pass an MREP course the student must attend all classroom sessions, all on-cycle sessions, pass a written knowledge test and a skill evaluation. Once this is accomplished the Site Coordinators will submit the student’s name to the RMV and a license is mailed to the student, provided no outstanding driving issues exist.

·      About one hundred RiderCoaches, administrators and guests attended  the MREP Annual Update. The guest speaker was Betsy Lister.  Betsy is an avid motorcyclist as well as the owner of an insurance agency.  Betsy was also a past Safety & Education Director for the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.  She discussed Liability and Motorcycle Insurance.
 Our RiderCoach Trainers reviewed the BRC curriculum   Program Coordinator also went over the 2005 Motorcycle Fatality Report.  Awards were given out to Site RiderCoaches of the Year and Service Awards to RiderCoach that had 5. 10, 15, 20 years of service.  The Joe Belanger Spirit Award was given to Joe “Sarge” Komola for his contribution as the MMA’s Director of Motorcycle Safety and Awareness.  This award is for anyone who goes above and beyond in the interest of motorcycle safety, awareness, education or training.

·      40,000 2006 MREP brochures were printed and distributed to
        Legislative district offices, RMV branches, insurance agencies, motorcycle dealers, motorcycle clubs, police departments and individuals from phone and web inquiries.
·      A RiderCoach Preparation Workshop was conducted, training 5 New RiderCoaches
·      Check twice, save a life campaign / awareness included but was not limited to

• Gave away 16,000 Check Twice, Save a life Bumper stickers
• Advertised “Check Twice, Save a Life” on the MA Turnpike Toll Booths during Laconia Bike Week along with lighted highway signs
• Participated in the Springfield Motorcycle Expo’s in which Safety Green MREP pens, motorcycle kits and MREP t-shirts were given away
• Aired two motorcycle commercials on Comcast and local TV news