AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals

AGE 18 TALESPINNERMARCH 27, 2009Photo by Staff Sgt. Orly TyrellWearing proper safety equipment is an essential element of reducing risk while riding motorcycles.Training, proper equipmentcritical to motorcycle safetyBy Staff Sgt. Shawn Owens37th Training Wing Safety OfficeMotorcycle season is here and the basesafety office is ensuring all motorcyclistsare well prepared and properly geared forsafe riding.Recent studies at the Air Force SafetyCenter indicate that motorcycle fatalitiesdouble in the spring. This sudden increasein motorcycle fatalities, often called thespring spike, reinforces the need to ridewith a safety mindset.To ensure the safety of Airmen, the AirForce Traffic Safety Program establishedprocedures for Airmen to follow before theyride on or off base.All Air Force personnel are required toattend a Motorcycle Safety Foundationapproved course prior to riding and civilianpersonnel require the training prior to ridingon base.Two courses are offered: a beginner’scourse and an experienced rider’s course.The 37th Training Wing safety office createda site on Air Force Knowledge Now forcourse registration. The site can be foundby searching for “37 TRW safety” on AFKN.Riders may also call the safety office at 671-5025 for registration assistance.In addition to training, riders must wearall personal protective equipment outlinedin AFI 91-207, 3.4.2.4, including a brightlycolored outer garment during the day andreflective upper garment during the night.Riders must also wear a helmet designedto meet or exceed Department ofTransportation standards along with propereye and foot protection.Commanders and supervisors also haveseveral obligations concerning motorcycleriders assigned to their units. They shouldhelp prepare their riders by talking to themabout the hazards of the road and helpinginexperienced riders prepare for the season.Discussions should be targeted, based onthe number of mishaps, speeding, and theaverage age of fatal motorcycle riders.Collaboration with other organizations isalso encouraged to share best practices andstrengthen motorcycle safety programs.Unit commanders are required to maintaina roster of the motorcycle ridersassigned to their unit, ensuring each rideris briefed on the requirements of AFI 91-207 and other applicable guidance.This roster should include, at a minimum,training completed, motorcycle makeand model, engine size, and operator experience.The roster should be updated regularly,as unit quarterly reviews have shownthat avid riders are likely to change bikes astheir riding skills increase.The motorcycle safety program aims toreduce the number of mishaps through education,training, commander involvementand personal rider responsibility.Communication throughout the chain ofcommand is critical to reducing the springspike and preparing Airmen to make appropriatepersonal risk management decisions.For more information about motorcyclesafety, contact the safety office at 671-5025.