Chapter 6 — Sharing the Road 89 About two-thirds of motorcycle crashes in North Carolina involve a car. In  most of these crashes, the driver of the car is at fault. The driver usually claims  he or she did not see the motorcycle. Because the motorcycle offers little or  no protection to the rider, the motorcyclist often is seriously injured or killed.  Moped riders and all passengers are required to wear a helmet with a retention  strap properly secured. The helmet must be a type that complies with Federal  Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 218). Many small motorcycles do not accelerate rapidly and may not maintain speed  going uphill or against a headwind. Stopping distances for motorcycles are also  different. Most can stop more quickly than cars, but motorcycles stop more  slowly when there is a second rider or when traveling on poor road surfaces  where sudden braking could lead to a fall. On the road, a cyclist traveling ahead of you could lose control when materials  such as sand, gravel, wet leaves or water are on the pavement. Be aware of  conditions that may cause a motorcyclist to fall. Watch out for motorcycles that  wobble or jerk while starting to move, or cyclists who hesitate while making  traffic decisions. These are signs of a beginning cyclist, so allow plenty of room. North Carolina law defines a moped as a vehicle with two or three wheels with  a motor of no more than 50 cubic centimeters of piston displacement and no  external shifting device. Legally, a moped’s top speed cannot exceed 30 miles  per hour. Although some mopeds on the market have top speeds higher than  the 30 mph limit, they are illegal for use in North Carolina. Be sure you know  a moped’s size and maximum speed before you buy it. Otherwise, you may not  be able to operate it legally. In North Carolina you must be at least 16 years old to operate a moped on a  public roadway or public vehicular area. No driver license is required. However,  driving while impaired laws that apply to drivers of other motor vehicles also  apply to moped operators. When riding a moped on a public roadway you must  follow all the rules of the road. Mopeds Things to remember when you encounter a cyclist: Motorcycles •  Never crowd the motorcycle or moped. Following too closely does not  allow enough reaction time in the case of an emergency; •  Allow a greater following distance when road surfaces are slippery. It is  easier for the motorcycle or moped to become unstable because it has  only two wheels in contact with the road surface; •  Always allow the cyclist plenty of room to maneuver, especially at railroad  crossings or on rough and uneven roadways. If the crossing is rough or at  an angle, the rider might need to slow down to cross; and •  Steel bridge expansion joints, metal grating on bridges and other metal  surfaces are hazardous for cyclists. Leave plenty of space between  yourself and the cyclist.