Moped Safety and Driving Rules

Moped Safety

If you are a moped operator, you must follow the same traffic rules as other motor vehicle operators. A moped is a two- or three-wheeled vehicle with a motor which has no more than 50cc piston displacement producing two brake horsepower or less. The moped must have a power drive system that does not require shifting gears and cannot have a top speed exceeding 30 mph on level surfaces.

Registration Requirements

Mopeds must be registered at a Secretary of State branch office unless operated solely on private property. You must pay a $15 fee for a three-year registration decal and put it on the back of your moped so it is visible to law enforcement officers. It expires April 30 in the year on the decal.

License Requirements

If you do not have a valid operator or chauffeur license and are at least age 15, you may apply for a special moped license. You are not eligible for a moped license if your operator or chauffeur license is suspended, revoked or denied unless the suspension is for a medical reason.

You must pass a vision, knowledge and traffic sign test to obtain a moped license. You do not have to pass a driver education course or a road skills test. Check with a local Secretary of State branch office for the vision standards, which differ from those required for a regular operator license.

If you are under age 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign your license application.

You must give up your moped license if you obtain a regular operator or chauffeur license.

The original moped license fee is $7.50. Applicants who are under 20 years, 6 months old receive a moped license valid until their 21st birthday. Any other moped license expires four years from the applicant’s last birthday. The four-year renewal fee is $6.

Rules of the Road

Wear a properly-fastened safety helmet when riding a moped on a public road, if under age 19.

Sit on a regular permanently attached seat.

Keep both hands on the handle grips. Never hang on to another vehicle for a "tow."

Ride on the far right edge of the road, out of the flow of traffic, when possible.

Make sure all moped equipment is in good working order.

Never operate a moped on freeways, more than two side-by-side, between lanes of traffic, or on sidewalks and bicycle paths.

Never allow an unlicensed operator to use your moped.

Never carry a passenger - it is illegal even if the moped has a passenger seat.

Perform Safety Check, Before Riding

Keep tires properly inflated;

Check the front and rear brakes, the throttle and cables for kinks and broken strands;

Test the horn and all lights including the brake light and turn signals;

Make sure the chain is properly adjusted;

Adjust and clean mirrors.

Riding Techniques

Body Position
    Sit straight and close enough to the handle bars to reach them with your arms slightly bent. Hold the handle grips firmly.

Turning

Approach turns carefully and limit your speed until you learn to judge the safest speed.

Lean with your moped. The sharper the turn, the more you must lean.

Use turn signals whenever you plan to enter traffic, turn, or change lanes, even if you do not see another vehicle or pedestrian.

Remember to turn off your signals after turning! They could confuse other drivers.

Use your left arm to signal turns if your moped does not have electric turn signals.

Be Visible

Keep your headlight on at all times.

Wear brightly-colored protective clothing that covers your arms and legs completely. Use reflective tape on your clothing, helmet and vehicle.

Wear protective boots and gloves.

Do not ride in another driver’s blind spot. Stay behind and to the right of the vehicle in front of you so you can see the vehicles’s turn signals.

Braking

Flash your brake light to warn others, by squeezing the brake lever before slowing down.

If you squeeze the brake lever too hard, you may lock the front wheel and tip your moped over, particularly on wet or loose surfaces.

Apply both brakes at the same time.

Brake before entering a curve or turn.

If you must stop quickly, keep the front wheel straight (do not slide). Apply the rear brake firmly and the front brake gently. Then, quickly increase the pressure on the front brake.

Ride Defensively

    Defensive driving is the key to safety. Expect the unexpected. Be aware of other vehicles and pedestrians. Be prepared for their mistakes. Watch for bicyclists, joggers, blind pedestrians, animals crossing the road, flying objects, gravel or icy and/or slippery roads.

The Road Ahead

Keep checking the road surface ahead. Slow down and test your brakes if you see slippery spots, oil, water, painted lane markings, manhole covers, bad bumps, loose gravel, grooves and gratings, broken or jutting pavement, railroad tracks or leaves.

Watch for vehicles leaving the curb or entering the road from side streets and driveways.

Look for places where you could leave the road safely in case of an emergency.

Using Your Mirrors
    Check your mirrors every few seconds when you slow down, stop, change lanes or approach intersections. Also, check mirrors periodically to be aware of vehicles approaching and/or passing from behind.

Checking Around You
    Mopeds have "blind spots" that you need to check by turning your head. When changing lanes, always look over your shoulder at the traffic behind you.

Position for Visibility
    As a moped operator, you can often see things other vehicle operators cannot.

At intersections, check around building, parked vehicles and bushes to see if other vehicles are coming.

When parked, pullback onto the road from an angled position for a better view of traffic coming from both directions.

Night Riding

Reduce your speed. Use your headlight if you must ride a moped at night. Leave more room between you and others to allow more time to react in a dangerous situation. Check for rough spots in the road by watching the tail lights of vehicles in front of you.

Limit night riding and wear reflective clothing. It is difficult to see you and your moped in the dark.

Keeping Your Distance

Distance in Front

Remain a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you when coming to a stop.

Keep at least a two-second traveling distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to allow time to react if the driver ahead suddenly stops. It gives you time to see potholes, slippery spots and debris.

Distance to the Side
    Be careful when a vehicle passes. Trucks can create gusts of wind that affect your steering. When you pass parked cars, allow for people opening doors and getting out of vehicles by moving to the left side of your lane. Move further over to the right when oncoming traffic passes you.

Distance Behind
    Monitor traffic behind you. If another vehicle follows you too closely, allow the vehicle to pass. Brake or signal early to communicate that you are turning, slowing down or stopping.

Intersections
    Most moped/car crashes occur at intersections, so enter them slowly and assume others do not see you. If you turn right, watch for approaching vehicles turning left in front of you. If you turn left, enter the intersection and turn when oncoming traffic has cleared.

Emergencies

If you have a blowout, hold the handle grips firmly, and concentrate on steering and maintaining a straight course. If the front tire blows, shift your weight as far back as you can. If the rear tire blows, do not shift your weight. Do not use either brake. Slowly close the throttle and coast. When your moped is going slowly and it is safe, edge to the side of the road and stop.

If you have a mechanical breakdown, get off the road. When walking your moped, stay on the right shoulder with your moped between you and passing traffic.

Remember ... Never drink alcohol or use other drugs before riding a moped!

For Your Protection ... Always wear an approved safety helmet!