European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes Friday. August 15, 1986 letters. Officials respond to motorcyclists concerns i recently arrived in Germany and Cwm 10 have my Priva icly owned vehicle License renewed. While i was there i asked the instructor what else was needed Tor a motorcycle License because i have shipped one from inc slates. I have a stateside License. As you primed in a recent article he Lold me thai there was a "30-qucslion written lest and a hands on  he went on to say thai if one question was missed then i would have to take a German motorcycle class at my own i Ponse which would Cost about 1,000 Marks. I Lold him that i was ready to take the lest. He smiled and said 1 would have to wait Heck us there was t a test or study material available yet since 1 arrived under the polity i just have to Wail. Where s the isl sri. Anthony Shepherd Schwaeb sch Gomond Germany can you list what is required to obtain a motorcycle driving permit the Drivers testing station told my husband that because he did t have a current motor Cycle License from his Home stale Arkansas he had to go to a German driving school to prove he knew How to ride. However the Man at the driving school told my husband that no matter How Well he Rode lie had to take a minimum of 12 hours of lessons at a Cost of 480 Marks. Is somebody Gering a Kickback or what name withheld Mannheim Germany read with great interest the recent explanation by the unidentified Usa eur spokesman of the new motorcycle Driver s License policy. The estimated Cost of the required course fascinating assuming 2,000 new motorcycle operators annually an input of some $600,000 a year into inc German Economy. Makes me wonder who got into whose pants after this decision. Robert e. Bartlett Billburg a Germany the american motorcyclist association is the larg est organization of motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the world. We have recently received several letters of concern expressed by soldiers stationed in Europe in response to an order by the commanding general of he . Army in Europe. Such courses Are reported to Cost As High As $350. We also have had severs complaints about the Quality of instruction provided in these courses and the level of fluency in English of the German instructors. We understand one of the purposes of the course is to ensure hat . Soldiers Are familiar with the rules of the Road and Are competent to operate a motorcycle in Germany. However if the level of instruction and understanding Are not adequate the program is not meeting its initial purpose the american motorcyclist association has a Lon record or being in favor of proper licensing and rider education As a deterrent to motorcycle accidents. How Ever if the . Army is legitimately interested in the welfare of its soldiers we believe the Driver safely courses should be provided 10 soldiers at no Cost. Robert Rasor vice president government relations american motorcyclist association if the commander in chief Usa eur really wants to protect motorcyclists in Europe and i have no doubt that he does and if a written and driving test Are to be Given to All motorcyclists regardless of their experience then i would Hope that it would be inappropriate performance skills examination i have Ridden motorcycles on and off for More than 20 Yean thankfully Accident free and yet 1 could easily establish a motorcycle test that even i could not pass. So Why Only one Chance to pass this test especially when you can take the Drivers License test As Many times As it takes since Usa eur has established this new motorcycle Driver s examination to help save lives Why not protect All Usa eur personnel by drive testing every Usa eur Driver s License applicant rather than giving Only one minority group the Opportunity to gain essential driving experience Michael a Mcdanlel Schinnen Netherlands our commander will not sign for anyone in the Bat Talion to get their motorcycle License this goes for dependents also. In Europe there s a problem and i can almost under stand their reason for not allowing motorcycle  s the Young 18-year-old fresh out of Basic away from mom and dad for the firs time got that big Bonus weighing Down the Back pocket. So you deride 10 Lake a sunday Misc. The Speed Ometer says 250 pm. Of course we All know hikes Aren t made to travel that fast. But you pass a car doing 160 pm and Ano thit doing 200 pm like they were going backward. This i know because you passed me. Nest they la be making a new regulation saying no Interr  i Ceil because the Day before the had to scrape you of Tiina nut Bahn. Name withheld Baum older Germany about two years ago the state of Florida changed is Laws requiring All new motorcycle riders to he licensed for motorcycles. 1 called Florida and asked iffy License is still valid. I was told it is and inc new Law Only affected newly licensed riders. The new Usa eur policy does t allow people from states such As mine to prove their Riding skills. We Are considered Novice riders and have to attend a German driving school. I have been operating a motorcycle for seven years and had to pay 526 Marks to attend the school just to gel a motorcycle License. What happens when i go Back to inc Stales and Myu Sarteur License expires and then 1 come Back to Germany do i have to pay for a German driving school again staff sgt Allen a gel Hartstedt Germany i have had enough. I seems that since the warm weather began the military command Structure in Europe has gone All out to find ways to keep the Soldier from enjoying it and what Little free Lime he has. What 1 am talking about is All the restriction being put out due to some accidents and or deaths occurring. I am speaking generally but my experience is with my own unit. First single soldiers below e-5 and living in the billets Are not authorized to gel a Usa eur Pov Driver s License or buy rent or drive a Pov or motorcycle. Because it is possible to a Cal a car in Ger Many with a state Driver s License these have Bee taken up and put in inc Battery Safe. Is any of this Legal it was done Lopa vent accidents and blotter re port but it acts As a punishment for at for the actions of a few second there is a big push on to prevent the ownership and use of motorcycles because of a recent rash of accidents and deaths and in Many maybe most cases the motorcycle accidents or deaths Are not even the fault of the rider but the stupid opera Tor of the car who thinks he owns the Road. The military needs to realize that life in itself is dangerous. Military or civilian we do things every Day that require certain risks every Lime someone gels Hurt or Dies in an Accident the military should not go to such lengths to protect its investments nor should it use readiness As an excuse in order to re strict its soldiers lifestyle to that of what a com Mander desires this causes morale to deflate. A. Don Waggoner Bamberg Germany i have seen one of the army s newest programs inaction. I be seen for the third Lime an american strike Down a motorcycle. The extra test and classes the motorcyclists must pay for Are doing Well. For sip and an automobile an american can end All our investment As motor cyclists. What happens to the automobile Drivers he required to take special classes sat Mannle Field Bundlach Germany editor s note a spokesman for the usar eur vehicle registry replica we Are pleased to take ibis Opportunity id respond to the letters pertaining to the new motorcycle Licens ing procedures. This response Only addresses the motorcycle licensing Issue the other issues must bad dressed by the appropriate agencies. We understand the concern far what is believed la be unfair treatment to motorcycle operators in the .forces a toned in Germany but after an explanation of the newly developed motorcycle licensing program we believe Yon will agree Wilt the rationale for the program. The program was nut designed to prohibit personnel irom operating a motorcycle but rather to ensure that they Are properly trained to operate a motorcycle safely in Germany where the traffic density is five limes a Scaler than thai in the United states. Let us reiterate the rationale As explained in a previous stars and stripes response on june 3, about the same subject. Motorcycle accidents and fatalities have increased in recent years. Thirteen fatalities occurred in Lisar Tajh during 1985 10 tonalities in 1984. The fatality Rale per 1 000 motorcycles registered in Usarek in 1985 mis 2.71. This in significant when compared to cars which had 0.2 full lines per 1,000 vehicles registered. As u result of tills difference the commander in chief Usa eur directed procedure be develop djo provide More mining and tests to applicants for motorcycle licenses in Germany for their own Well being. Statistics have indicated that the majority of inc motorcycle fatalities occurred with the motorcyclist in Possession of a Usa eur motorcycle License for less than two months. This is attributed to tick of Riding skills and the unique situations present in Germany. The new motorcycle Accident prevention program was designed to ensure thai before a motorcycle opera Tor s License is issued he applicant is knowledgeable in the Rales of the Road and is competent in Riding a motorcycle in Germany. Pursuant Ullh the new motorcycle Kensing proce dures which went into effect on april 1, 198. All Novice motorcycle applicant and possibly some experienced motorcycle applicants will be required Loun Dergo instruction by an English speaking instructor Al a German Driver s school far additional training and certification Al their own expense approximately 43 Marks per hour of instruction. By attending a German Driver school the motor Cycle applicant will receive the Best possible training available to operate a motorcycle in Germany As previous mentioned applicants with motorcycle driving experience Are also included in this new pro Gram. In fact hey must demonstrate to the ils. Farces thai they Are knowledgeable in motorcycle theory a 30-queslion written lest allowed to miss three questions and still put and practical handling of a motorcycle a nine exercise proficiency course allowed to make five mistake and still pass. If an experienced motorcycle applicant fails either test he she will also be required to attend a German Driver s school for additional motorcycle raining an certification. This new policy does not discriminate against a motorcycle operator quite be contrary. It has been developed to help protect and possibly save the lives of . Forces motorcycle operators driving in Ger Many. Just by the construction of a motorcycle motorcyclists Are More susceptible to severe Accident and fatalities. This policy u Standard Lor All usar eur troops in Germany. This Headquarters has not authorized any deviation from the newly established program. Usa eur regulation 190-1/cincusnaveur instruction 11240.6g/u3afe regulation 125-13 pro Vides the Standard guidelines for applicants and com Manders to follow for obtaining and processing motorcycle License application. 1 Hope this explanation of the program gives every one a better understanding of Usa eur s rationale for the development of ibis new program. W ill in Lam led speeds on German autobahn different right of Way rules Cobblestone streets trolley tracks and a traffic density five times greater than in America it is of the utmost importance that our i is. Forces motorcycle operators tie thoroughly trained or can prove their proficiency before they Are authorized to operate a. Motorcycle an centum roads. Peter Seeman adar vehicle traffic and a Zittra icon department Munich also replies total time for training is not fixed but a definite time of seven to eight hours is fixed or required this seven to eight hour period involving both Day and nighttime Riding experience on it Bahns City roads and secondary roads. Time is also required for riders to learn How to ride in circles perform figure 8s, learn proper braking procedure least How to avoid obstacles ride slalom courses Etc. Where local time is involved much would depend on whether a rider leans quickly or not but the seven to eight hours1 Lime for Day and night Riding As noted for autobahn Coly roads and secondary roads is required regardless of How fast or How slowly one learns. All in All a total average figure would involve 15 la20 hours of Cycle training for the beginner