California Motorcyclist Safety Program Posts 26% Gain in Student Training for 2004

IRVINE, Calif.--Feb. 2, 20052, 2005--

Combined California Student Tuition Savings and CMSP Budget Savings Total More Than $1 Million

The California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP) recently marked the end of its first year of administration by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), a not-for-profit safety and training organization. Under the direction of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the CMSP posted major gains in the number of California motorcyclists trained, and at considerable savings to the State of California and tens of thousands of students.

In 2004, 49,222 students received hands-on motorcycle training offered through the CMSP, an increase of 26% over the previous year, in which an estimated 39,000 received training.

Administrative budget savings for the CMSP in 2004, managed by MSF, are estimated at $405,790.

"We're pleased with the results of this first year, but it's only the beginning," said Robert Gladden, MSF's program manager for the CMSP. "We trained 10,000 more motorcyclists in 2004 compared to the previous year, and we did it at a considerable savings to the State of California, and to most of the students, too."

Gladden continued, "We certainly hope that Governor Schwarzenegger, an avid rider himself, is aware not only of the savings to his state budget, but also of the tremendous difference that getting proper training makes. Lifelong learning is the key to many, many miles of motorcycling adventures."

Of the 49,222 students trained in 2004, 85% were 21 or older, and paid $198 per class, a $14 reduction from the previous tuition fee of $212. Collectively these students saved a total of $614,250 in tuition costs alone. Motorcyclists under 21, for whom training is a requirement to get a motorcycle endorsement on their license, pay $150 for tuition, which is lower than the national average for tuition.

2004 CMSP Achievements

After an open bid process initiated by the CHP, MSF was awarded the 2004/2005 state contract to administer motorcycle training for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program effective January 1, 2004. MSF attributes the CMSP's success in 2004 to the combined support and cooperation of the site sponsors, CMSP RiderCoaches, California Highway Patrol, CMSP Advisory Committee, and the MSF Board of Directors and staff involved in the administration of the program.

The CMSP achievements for 2004 include:

-- Training 49,222 students, an increase of 26% over 2003, with a pass rate of 87%.

-- Administrative cost savings to the state estimated at $405,790.

-- Tuition cost savings to students of nearly $614,250.

-- Combined California student tuition savings and CMSP budget savings total $1,020,040.

-- Adopting the MSF Basic RiderCourse(SM)(BRC), the core curriculum component of the MSF's comprehensive, research-based, Rider Education and Training System(SM) (MSF RETS).

-- Updating 302 California RiderCoaches to the newly adopted Basic RiderCourse curriculum.

-- Training 118 new RiderCoaches.

-- Increasing the total number of RiderCoaches available to teach the Basic RiderCourse in California by 29% in 2004.

-- Increasing the total number of authorized training sites in California to 77 in 2004, an increase of eight sites (11%) over the number of authorized training sites in 2003.

-- A 30-second public service announcement (PSA) was produced specifically for distribution in California, featuring the CMSP logo, 800 number, and website. The PSA, aimed at raising motorist awareness about the presence of motorcyclists, stars actress/motorcyclist Molly Culver, who hosts the Outdoor Life Network's Dirt Rider Adventures program and is a field reporter for the AMA Supermoto Series.

-- MSF repainted 63 ranges in 2004 in the BRC configuration, at no cost to the sponsor sites.

-- MSF conducted 129 quality assurance visits during 2004.

-- Revised the CMSP Policies and Procedures Guide, and distributed copies to all CMSP sponsor sites.

-- In 2004, the new CMSP toll-free information line, 877-RIDE-411, took more than 63,000 incoming calls.

-- A separate toll-free Sponsor/Site Administrator line was established to facilitate communication between MSF and the Sponsors/Site Administrators.

-- A new CMSP website, www.ca-msp.org, was created and is regularly updated. The site includes a section set aside for the Sponsors and Site Administrators giving them 24/7 access to the CMSP Polices and Procedures and all site-related forms.

-- CMSP materials distributed year-to-date include 70,320 RiderCourse brochures, 84,110 How To Get Your License brochures, 28,265 4"x4" RiderCourse information cards, 4,540 RiderCourse posters, and 3,525 motorcyclist awareness posters, which have been sent to training sites, sponsors, State Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) locations, universities, state colleges, and public high schools.

-- Conducted four six-hour Professional Development Workshops for more than 300 participating CMSP Site Sponsors and RiderCoaches at locations across the state. Workshops focused on curriculum delivery techniques and the quality of the students' learning experience.

-- Introduced Sexual Harassment Awareness and Dealing with Difficult People training for all CMSP RiderCoaches and Sponsors.

About MSF

Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation(R) (MSF) has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider education courses, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling. The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio/Vespa, Suzuki, Victory and Yamaha. For RiderCourse(SM) locations nationwide, call 800-446-9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org. For information about rider training in California, call 877-RIDE-411 or visit www.ca-msp.org.

The MSF's mission is to make motorcycling safer, and more enjoyable, by ensuring access to lifelong quality education and training for current and prospective riders, and by advocating a safer riding environment.

The MSF Rider Education and Training System(SM)

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation(R) is the internationally recognized developer of the comprehensive, research-based, Rider Education and Training System(SM) (MSF RETS). RETS curricula promotes lifelong-learning for motorcyclists and continuous professional development for certified RiderCoaches and other trainers.

More than three million motorcyclists have graduated from basic or experienced RiderCourses(SM). Each year throughout the nation and the in the military, there are approximately 7,000 MSF-certified RiderCoaches(SM) actively teaching, each trained by one of a team of more than 200 MSF-certified RiderCoach Trainers.

The MSF's key motorcycle safety messages are:

1. Get trained and licensed.

2. Be a lifelong learner.

3. Wear protective gear.

4. Ride Straight.

5. Ride within your limits.