Law enforcement has been advised by the Florida Department Of Highway Safety And Motor Vehicles to accept health insurance cards provided by HMOs–or any recognized health insurance provider–as valid proof. The insurance must not be expired. To stay in compliance with Florida Helmet Laws, all passengers must have equivalent insurance of their own. If you are on the motorcycle without a helmet you must have valid proof of the aforementioned.

Department Of Highway Safety And Motor Vehicles has deemed helmet laws secondary. Meaning an officer should not perform a traffic stop based on helmet laws alone. Although, if an officer suspects the driver or passenger to be under 21 he may perform a traffic stop. If stopped, a motorcycle operator will be asked for his motorcycle endorsement and proof that the motorcycle is properly registered and insured. By informing yourself of Florida Helmet laws (statute 316.211) you will be prepared in the event that an officer stops you. If an officer chooses to write you a ticket despite proper riding procedure, chances are you are better informed of the laws than the officer pulling you over. With this knowledge you can choose to fight the ticket in traffic court and you will win if you HAVE followed the Florida Helmet Laws set forth.

It is important to note that proper eye protection gear is a requirement without a helmet, regardless of age. And if you do decide to ride your motorcycle with a helmet it must remain properly fastened any time the vehicle is in motion. The helmet must also meet the standards of Safety Standard 218 set forth by the Federal Motorcycle Vehicle Safety and the United States Department of Transportation.

While the power of knowledge cannot guarantee a completely safe ride on every motorcycle ride, it will insure the operator is well informed and educated of Florida Helmet Laws in the case of a traffic stop.

The United States Air Force contracted with a professor named Dr. Lombard to create a helmet suitable for use by its cadets. The result was an invention that was later patented and used in many different applications, including motorcycle helmets. Dr. Lombard’s work also lead to a new race car helmet that quickly became high in demand, and work on the motorcycle helmet was placed on the back burner. The original helmets had very little padding, and it was questionable how safe they truly were.

While many companies began to produce the helmet, there really were no specific standards as to their design or manufacturing. Snell, a name very popular in the industry, developed some testing requirements in 1957 and became the only national independent motorcycle helmet testing agency. After developing several independent tests, a number of different motorcycle helmets were evaluated and miserably failed. Much more information was available as to the effectiveness of various materials, and many helmets in production were pulled from the market. Several years later, in 1961, the first helmet laws were passed. It took another 13 years for the U.S. Department of Transportation to finally set the required standards, and even now there are DOT approved stickers present on each motorcycle helmet.

Motorcycle helmets now come in a wide variety of different styles, but all of them must adhere to the same safety requirements. Many individuals prefer the full-shielded helmets in which the entire face is protected, whereas some riders seek a helmet as small as possible. No matter what motorcycle helmet a rider chooses, they can rest assured that it is made of high quality materials that have been tested and proven to withstand significant force.

Riding a motorcycle is a favorite pastime for many, and necessary transportation for others. The invention and subsequent incorporation of the motorcycle helmet into the industry has revolutionized the practice of operating a motorcycle. As a result, it is not only much safer to use a motorcycle helmet, but in many places it is the law as well.
 

In order to ride a bike legally, a permit is needed and in some states a driver’s license as well. Other states might require you to pass a two-part knowledge exam if you don’t have a driver’s license. The permit allows you to ride, but you must have another rider accompany you on another motorcycle who has an ‘M’ endorsement on their license, you cannot take passengers, and you cannot ride at night or on the freeway. The length of time the permit is good for varies from state to state.

You have the option, when you are ready to apply for the “M’ endorsement, to take either a rider training program or a DMV motorcycle road test. It is in your best interest to consider the training program. They will take you through the proper procedures for pre-trip examinations, proper starting, shifting, changing lanes, riding around obstacles and curves, proper braking, and many other safety considerations. Training takes place both on the riding pad and in the classroom. Both parts of the training will enhance each other and allow greater retention. There is a riding test and a written test. When you’re through, you simply take your certificate to the DMV for your endorsement. You won’t need to take the DMV riding test. Many of these courses are offered on community college campuses.

Buying your first bike

If you are thinking of buying a bike for the first time, there are many things to consider. Among them, is weight. You don’t want a bike that’s too heavy to maneuver when turning or parking. There are good lightweight bikes that get great gas mileage and still provide plenty of speed to commute or recreate with. Those that love speed may opt for the café racer, but one should be careful to work up their skills before deciding to fly down a mountainside on one of these. Other considerations are insurance costs, parts availability if it’s a used bike, and good local shops for repair if you don’t want to fix it yourself.

Basic maintenance/safety considerations

Make sure to read the owner’s manual, but at a minimum, fluid and filter changes should be done regularly. Have the brakes checked regularly and always keep the recommended tire pressure. The clutch, brakes, tires, proper fuel flow, lights, horn, and mirrors are all important safety considerations. Another is always making yourself visible.