Saskatchewan motorcycle insurance committee recommends stricter requirements for learner’s permits

Saskatchewan Government Insurance announced Tuesday that the province’s Motorcycle Review Committee report is now public and has been presented to the government for review.

Recommendations include increasing the requirements for acquiring a learner’s licence, mandatory gear for new riders and their passengers and to require inspections prior to registering a total loss motorcycle or a used motorcycle most recently registered in another jurisdiction.

Last year, SGI had submitted a rate change proposal to the Saskatchewan Rate Review Panel, proposing not to cap premiums for motorcycle insurance. But facing a backlash, the government directed SGI to amend the proposal to cap such increases at 15%. At the time, SGI had said that as a group, motorcycle rates are significantly lower than what’s required to cover their claims costs.

The province then formed the Motorcycle Review Committee.

“During the review, the Motorcycle Review Committee considered a number of proposals put forward by SGI and committee members, statistical and program analysis provided by SGI, and feedback from the public,” SGI stated in a release Tuesday.

The committee is proposing incentives for new riders to take training, changes to the Safe Driver Recognition (SDR) program, specific to motorcycles and stiffer penalties in SGI’s driver improvement programs for all drivers and riders. It also included “possible insurance coverage options.”