Officials urge safety while riding motorcycles

By Nathan Pfau, Army Flier Staff WriterApril 9, 2015

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FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 9, 2015) -- As motorcycle riders dust off their bikes and hit the road, Fort Rucker safety officials remind them to keep safety first and gear up properly before venturing out.

While riding serves as a leisurely pastime for many and a means of transportation for some, Andrew Smith, Army Traffic Safety Training Program lead instructor, said that without proper safety and awareness, riding can come down to life and death.

The installation takes motorcycle safety seriously and requires that every Soldier who rides to complete motorcycle safety courses, as well as wear all required safety gear when riding.

"These Soldiers are absolutely irreplaceable … so if we can offer them some training to increase and enhance their chances of survival out on the streets, it's what we live for," said Smith.

Three courses are offered on Fort Rucker, including the entry-level Basic Rider Course, the more advanced Basic Rider Course 2 and Military Sport Bike Course.

All Soldier-riders on Fort Rucker must complete the BRC and then either the BRC2 or sport bike course within 12 months of completing the BRC. The BRC2 is designed for riders who own cruisers, touring bikes or standard bikes, and the sport bike course is for those whose bikes are labeled by the manufacturer as a sport bike.

The follow-up courses serve as a type of check ride to ensure that Soldiers are using the proper techniques while riding, as well as to go over more advanced techniques in regards to the type of bike they are riding.

"It's a good way to check and make sure you're doing everything right and to see if you've developed some bad habits," said Smith.

In addition to the riding safety courses, according to Army Regulation 385-10, all Soldiers who ride must wear six mandatory pieces of gear: a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves, full-finger gloves, long pants and sturdy boots. Some units on the installation may require their Soldiers to wear additional gear, such as reflective vests.

"Dress for protection, not fashion," said Smith. "If you fall off your bike and you're going to slide on the road, what do you want to have on your body protecting you?"

In 2012, nearly 5,000 motorcycle riders were killed in motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, and another 93,000 were injured.

It's because of numbers like that that the Army takes a strong stance on motorcycle safety. Smith said he's proud to state that the riding courses on Fort Rucker have trained more than 1,500 riders in just the past three years, and that Fort Rucker hasn't had a motorcycle fatality in more than five years.

Of course, not all accidents can be prevented and they're not always the fault of the motorcycle rider, and that's why the NHTSA wants to remind drivers of vehicles on four wheels to be cognizant and aware of those out on the roads.

All motorists are reminded to "share the roads" with their counterparts and motorcyclists are reminded to make themselves visible to other drivers.

The BRC is a 15-hour course spread over two days and is offered at least once a week. The BRC2 is a six-hour course and is offered normally twice a month, and the sport bike course is an eight-hour course that is offered about once a month. The frequency of the classes is dependent on the amount riders registered.

The courses are for active-duty Soldiers only, but Smith said that the classes are available to all branches of service at Fort Rucker.

For more information or to sign up, call 255-1027 or visit https://imc.army.mil/airs.

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Fort Rucker, Ala.

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