The province of New Brunswick has announced a new plan for graduated motorcycle licensing, starting next spring.
Despite the fanfare, there seems to be little change over the previous system, which saw riders able to acquire a full-fledged licence after passing a written test, holding a beginner’s permit, then passing a road test.
There’s no Euro-style restrictions on motorcycle size; instead, the highlights of the new legislation seem to be a requirement for zero blood alcohol content, and bans on riding after dark and carrying a passenger before acquiring a full licence. Most importantly, riders will have to complete a recognized riding course before getting their full licence.
Beginning riders will be required to take part in the graduated licence program for a year before acquiring a licence with no restrictions.
Most of the other restrictions on the graduated licence aren’t anything new – riders must pass a vision test, must be 16 years old, etc. Find out more about the new licence system, which rolls into place on April 1, 2015, here.
[…] New Brunswick has moved towards graduated motorcycle licensing, but Safety Services NB, a rider training body, says the province needs to make more changes to the system. The government, however, disagrees. […]