Motorcycle safety for riders

  • Published
  • By Ken "Roxy" Roxburgh
  • Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club Chapter 64 Safety Officer
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- --  Motorists are not the only ones who need to be responsible on the road. The other half of the battle is the rider being alert and practicing situational awareness. Here are some hints for motorcyclists that will help keep the roads safe for both motorcyclists and automobile drivers.


First, use your eyes effectively. Keep them moving. Don't get fascinated by that '53 Corvette off to the right. Don't rubber neck at an accident scene. If a person's eyes are locked on one thing for too long, that person is probably ignoring another situation that could affect safety.

Look ahead. Look to the side. Check the mirrors. Look over your shoulders. Keep looking! Anticipate the oncoming, left-turning driver, the reckless driver coming up behind you, the car poking its nose out of the driveway, the guy beside and a little behind you who's moving across the lane divider. Never let your eyes fix on an object for more than two seconds. Keep looking and scanning for potential threats. It is one thing to see and another thing to see with the time to react. Avoid tailgating.

Second, when you're riding in town, at speeds under 40 mph, always keep a two-second gap between you and the car in front. For example, when that truck goes by a phone pole, count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two" and then you should pass that pole. Out on the open road, with higher speeds, you should adjust your distance to three or four seconds or even more, depending on your speed and the road conditions. Use the same reference-point technique mentioned above to determine how many seconds are behind the vehicle.

Finally, always remember the highways were created to move people from one point to another. Many deaths occur on these highways due to inattentive drivers and riders. Remember back when you first got your driver's license. They didn't teach you to talk or text on a cell phone, drink your double café mocha, or apply make-up. You were taught how to operate your vehicle safely and within the laws of the highway. This also applies to motorcycle riders. You weren't taught to do wheelies down the highway or not be attentive to your surroundings when riding. Everyone needs to drive and ride responsibly, follow the rules of the road and be safe.


The Green Knights Military Motorcycle Club Chapter 64 is a private organization on Goodfellow that promotes safe motorcycle riding through safety education and rider mentorship. The chapter is only one of 86 chapters located on military bases worldwide who work with base safety and law enforcement offices to help riders retain their rights and still follow the regulations set forth by federal, state, and local base regulations- all while trying to maintain a fun and enjoyable riding experience. For more information visit www.texasgreenknights.org/gk64 or email gk64@goodfellow.af.mil.