Motorcycles, think safety first!

  • Published
  • By Neil Townley
  • 17th Training Wing Safety
The following story is true: 

An Airman riding a motorcycle attempted a high-speed pass, lost control, struck a roadway median, and was thrown off. The Airman struck a tree and sustained fatal injuries. He was an inexperienced motorcycle operator with less than two months total riding experience.

 Although there were other factors surrounding this mishap, one of the primary causes was lack of training. The lack of knowledge led to poor decision making, which in turn led to loss of control of the motorcycle. The accident was fatal. This Airmen would still be alive today if he had taken the motorcycle safety course and applied the lessons learned while operating his motorcycle. 

Statistics show that you are more likely to suffer fatal injuries while riding a motorcycle, specifically a sport bike. Whether you ride a sport bike, a cruiser, or something in between, the Air Force requires you to take a motorcycle safety course prior to operating a bike, and for good reason! Along with the appropriate training, everyone is required to wear the necessary protective equipment such as a DOT approved helmet, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy footwear, gloves, and a brightly colored upper outer garment during the day. 

If you would like to sign up for a motorcycle safety course, please contact the Wing Safety office at 654-3963. Our classes fill up quickly in the summer time but we still have a few seats available.