Motorcycle safety important part of critical days

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katie Booher
  • 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) --  Since the start of the “101 Critical Days of Summer,” at least 16 Airmen have been injured or killed in motorcycle accidents, primarily because they lacked proper training or were not wearing all the required safety gear when they went down.

Rod Krause, the 5th Bomb Wing safety office manager here and a motorcycle enthusiast, said the policies and clothing regulations are not meant to deter people from riding; they are in place to keep people safe.

“The rules are going to protect because the riding environment is more hazardous on a motorcycle than if [he or she] were riding in a car,” he said. “People aren’t watching out for bikers, which makes bikers more vulnerable for traffic mishaps.”

Before a person ever steps foot on a showroom floor, he or she should consider the necessary training and complete that training before driving a new bike home.

“To operate a motorcycle on or off duty, on or off base, active-duty members must successfully complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, either the basic rider’s course or the experienced rider’s course” Mr. Krause said.

Once people go through that training, they must go through a one-on-one motorcycle briefing with their squadron commander to demonstrate they understand exactly what they are dealing with, he said.

Along with the training comes the amount of personal protective equipment a person must wear when riding, said Mr. Krause.

“A Department of Transportation-certified helmet must be properly worn and secured, and the goggles and face shield must be impact or shatter resistant. A windshield or eyeglasses alone aren’t proper protection,” he said. “Over-the-ankle boots or shoes are strongly suggested, and a long-sleeve shirt or jacket and full-fingered gloves or mittens designed for use on a motorcycle must be worn.”

One of the biggest questions the safety office receives is on what riders must wear on their upper body, said Mr. Krause.

“A brightly colored upper outer garment [must be worn] during the day, and a reflective upper garment [must be worn] during the night. The outer garment must be clearly visible,” he said. “Black leather jackets alone aren’t enough; something must be worn on top of the jacket to make it highly visible.”

Those who chose not to abide by the rules and clothing regulations can face military punishment if they are caught, said Mr. Krause.

“If you get hurt while riding a bike and you’re not wearing this gear, you could be held liable under the line-of-duty determination,” he said. “Beyond being in trouble with the commander for disobeying a direct order, you could be stuck with the medical bills.”

The rules apply both on base and off for active-duty Airmen. Civilians are only required to follow these rules when they ride on base or use their motorcycle for official government use.

“If [Department of Defense or nonappropriated fund civilians are] going to use their bike for official duties off base, they must attend a safety class,” he said. “[For example] if I need to make an office supply run downtown during the day, I must wear all the equipment, but once I hit the gate at 4:30 p.m., I can wear [shorts and a T-shirt] if I want to.”