Motorcycle riders train for safety

  • Published
  • By 673d ABW Safety Office
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  According to the Air Force Safety Center, the Air Force has lost 176 Airmen to motorcycle mishaps in the last ten years.

Of those 176, 140 (80 percent) were sport bike riders. Also, of the 176 fatalities, 128 (73 percent) were attributed to reckless behavior by the operator. Although less than eight percent of Airmen are motorcycle riders, they accounted for 27 percent of the total fatalities during the last 10 years.

This year, the Army has experienced a 50 percent increase with 33 deaths compared to 22 from one year ago. Most were contributed to excessive speed, inexperience, and over confidence.

Don't become a statistic. Lack of training, riding beyond skill levels and excessive speed all contributed to the injuries and deaths we all work so hard to prevent.
How can you be part of the solution?

If you're considering purchasing or riding a motorcycle, there are available seats for the Basic Riders Course at no cost to you. The bike and required Personal Protective Equipment are provided to you for this two-day training session. You can also sign up for a Basic Riders Course Two or Military Sport Bike Rider Course. Both are offered on JBER at no cost.

The one-day BRC-2 course helps riders hone and fine-tune the physical and mental skills needed for survival in traffic. Riders will need to provide the bike and PPE for this class. This class qualifies graduates for insurance premium discounts with some insurers, but most importantly, it may save a life.

MSRC is the next-level training course for military riders who have completed the MSF Basic Rider Course. Riders provide the bike and PPE. This one-day class consists of three hours of classroom interactive lessons and four hours of on-cycle range time focusing on the speed and cornering characteristics of sports bikes.

The registration process is simple. Inform your unit motorcycle monitors or leadership of your training request. Logon to www.militarysafepmv.com and select Elmendorf Richardson. Then click on the course and date you prefer and register for the course you want. If you have questions concerning the course or class schedule, you can send an email to milsafeinfo@ctc.com.

The motorcycle season is in full swing and funding for this year's opportunity will soon end. Be prepared for possible regulation changes next fiscal year and schedule yourself for free training this year.