Air Force Motorcycle safety forum set for May 28

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  A five-year review of motorcycle mishaps to Air Force members revealed incidents are on the rise.

These mishaps resulted in 72 deaths from 1999 to 2003, and the Air Force ratio of mishaps per capita exceeded the national average.

To increase motorcycle safety awareness, the Air Force Safety Center scheduled a forum for motorcycle riders May 28 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

“A lot of Air Force riders will be in the D.C. metro area over the Memorial Day weekend, and we thought this would be a great opportunity to invite the Air Force active-duty, Reserve, Guard and Air Force civilian motorcycle riders to a safety forum,” said John Phillips, Air Force ground safety chief.

Maj. Gen. Maurice L. "Lee" McFann Jr., Air Force chief of safety, will provide opening remarks and emcee the event.

The forum is scheduled to start at noon at the base lake pavilion, and includes:

-- Air Force motorcycle safety update.

-- Lessons learned from Air Force motorcycle clubs.

-- Motorcycle Safety Foundation presentation.

-- Keynote speaker.

-- Question and answer sessions.

The keynote speaker for the event is avid motorcyclist Lt. Gen. Richard V. Reynolds, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander. General Reynolds will talk about his personal experience as a rider and he encourages all Air Force motorcyclists to attend the event.

“We want to make this an informal outing and provide safety messages and receive feedback from the rider,” Mr. Phillips said. “This is just one way to increase the safety culture in motorcycle riders.”