233673
235084
Behind-the-Wheel

Drivers licence restrictions help new motorcycle riders get up to speed

Motorcycle licensing

Driver's licence restrictions are used to restrict the operation of motor vehicles until the driver gains sufficient experience in their operation to have them removed.

They are also used in the case of a medical condition or functional deficit. Restrictions may be imposed by either RoadSafetyBC or ICBC depending on the situation.

One incident I investigated is a common example of ignoring restrictions. It was an off-road left collision involving a learner driver on a motorcycle. He was restricted to having an instructor aged 25+ and operating at a speed of no more than 60 km/h. The instructor was 21 and explained they couldn't have been doing more than 70 km/h in the 60 km/h zone before the crash.

Learning to ride a motorcycle properly may be more dangerous than learning to drive a car. The rider is not as well protected as a driver and there are challenges learning to steer and in maintaining stability. Initial passenger and speed limitations are designed to introduce these challenges to the rider to reduce the danger involved in learning.

Here is a table of restrictions specifically for motorcycle riders holding British Columbia driver's licences:

Restrictions on Class 7 and 8 licences are typically removed by ICBC as the GLP driver successfully completes testing to move toward holding a Class 6 full privilege licence.

Restrictions for medical or functional deficits are removed by RoadSafetyBC.

In all cases, unless the driver can comply with the restrictions, police action may include a violation ticket for the offence under section 25(15) MVA or 30.10(4) MVAR. The penalty is $109 and may also include three penalty points.

The rider will also be prevented from continuing until the restrictions are complied with or a qualified driver can take over.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



More Behind the Wheel articles

225771
About the Author

Tim Schewe is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. He has been writing his column for most of the 20 years of his service in the RCMP.

The column was 'The Beat Goes On' in Fort St. John, 'Traffic Tips' in the South Okanagan and now 'Behind the Wheel' on Vancouver Island and here on Castanet.net.

Schewe retired from the force in January of 2006, but the column has become a habit, and continues.

To comment, please email

To learn more, visit DriveSmartBC



232798
The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

Previous Stories



228921
229484


232605