A number of insurance companies are now requiring new motorcycle riders to take tests before they can purchase coverage for their vehicles.
Motorcycle insurance is a requirement in Canada; riders must secure coverage to be able to legally ride on the street or face sanctions.
Learn more about motorcycle insurance here.
A news feature by
CTV put a spotlight on the new requirement, noting that while it can be an additional burden to riders, it could ultimately lead to fewer accidents on the road.
“Most agree a motorcycle safety course is a good idea. It can actually get you a discount on your insurance premiums,” Pat Foran of
CTV mentioned in a special report. “However, many insurance companies now say you must take the course or they won’t insure you until you do.”
A Toronto-based dealer told
CTV that while his scooter dealership is attracting a lot of customers, the new rules can be complicated.
Lou DiBiase, of Vespa Toronto West, shared concerns that his clients may have to learn to ride on motorcycles instead of scooters (which Vespa mainly sells). He also said that due to the rule, new riders may have to wait months before they can take a course, and they may not practice on their machines until they do.
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“A lot of us in the industry do feel it’s beneficial to take that training, but [again] forcing people to – it’s probably not the best way,” he said.
“[The training] is going to save your life,” commented John Redekop of Learning Curves, a motorcycle riding school. “It vastly reduces the amount of . . . risk factors that you’ll have to deal with. It makes the world a safer place for you.”
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