People need better training before they start riding motorcycles, according to the president of a not-for-profit group in New Brunswick that works to prevent injuries.

In the past month, four New Brunswickers have died in motorcycle accidents.

Safety Services New Brunswick offers a 21-hour safety course that has made a difference for all students who have taken it, according to Bill Walker.

"Ask them if they can tell you a story about when the motorcycle course has saved their life and you'll find that pretty much every student will be able to tell you when and there is a reason," Walker said.

"Motorcycle riding itself is not an intuitive skill, I mean anybody can sit on a bike and twist the handle and make it go, however there's a concept called counter-steering, there is emergency braking, collision avoidance, these are skills that ultimately have to be taught."

About 18 hours of the course offered by Safety Services New Brunswick is spent on a motorcycle, he said.

Walker says he would support mandatory motorcycle safety training in New Brunswick as long as the standards remained the same.

The problem, according to Walker, is that when courses become mandatory, there's a greater demand and often a greater number of providers which can water the training down.

"We would certainly support or endorse mandatory motorcycle training providing that the minimum standard would become consistent with the curriculum that we offer which is 21 hours and so many hours on the motorcycle and so on."

The course provided by Safety Services New Brunswick is $475 — but Walker says many insurance providers give those who complete it a discount on their premiums.