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Ride Smart...Ride Safe

  • Published
  • By Wing Safety
  • 20th Fighter Wing/Ground Safety Manager
3/12/2012 --  With the warmer weather rapidly approaching, more motorcycle riders will be taking to the roads of Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina and points beyond. This increased riding activity will also mean riders are also exposed to potential mishap causing situations.

Since the start of the fiscal year, the Air Force recorded four motorcycle mishaps. Three resulted in fatalities and one resulted in a permanent total disability. Two of the three fatalities occurred to Airmen assigned to Air Combat Command. With one exception, all were single-vehicle mishaps in which the operators lost control of their motorcycles.

"As a rider myself, I know there are some inherent risks associated with riding," said Lt. Col. Scott Walker, 20th Fighter Wing chief of safety. "Riders need to be prepared at all times for any situation that may arise."

Motorcycle riders have very little protection during a mishap situation. Many times, survivability comes down to training, skill-set experience, personal protective equipment and decision making.

"We always talk about training requirements, practicing your riding skills and PPE use, but a lack of sound decision making can negate any or all of those areas", said Scott Eck, 20th FW ground safety manager. "Drinking and riding, not wearing PPE and operating a motorcycle without the proper training shows a failure to make a good risk decision by the rider. Whether the rider was doing everything correctly and did not contribute to the mishap or if they were causal to the mishap, the results are usually the same; injuries and possibly death."

To help riders at Shaw, the 20th FW Safety Office is hosting a motorcycle safety briefing March 23 at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the base theater.

The purpose of the safety briefing is to remind riders of the hazards associated with motorcycling and to enhance the rider's knowledge, said Tech. Sgt. Biagi Borrero, event coordinator.

A highlight of the briefing will be Team Shaw member Tech. Sgt. Geoffrey Kogler, 20th Operations Support Squadron, who volunteered to share his motorcycling experiences with his fellow riders.

"I have read the information that Kogler will be presenting and it should be eye-opening for other riders to hear," Borrero said. "We have also created a motorcycle safety toolbox and posted it to our community of practice. The toolbox contains a collection of information in a variety of formats and will be updated through the riding season."

All motorcycle operators on Shaw are encouraged to enjoy the ride, but to do so safely. Get trained, practice your skills and wear your PPE. Ride like your life depends on it...because it just might.