RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Due to a high number of springtime motorcycle mishaps last year involving Air Force people and the rise in mishaps across America, the Air Force Safety Center is mandating a Spring Spike Emphasis.
The initiative begins in the first week of March and ends immediately before this year's 101 Critical Days of Summer Campaign in May.
One Randolph Air Force Base safety specialist offered some advice for motorcyclists who are getting ready to ride their bikes as soon as the South Texas chilly weather starts to clear.
"The spring is a typically rusty time if you haven't been riding all winter," said Tech. Sgt. David Roller, 502nd Air Base Wing ground safety craftsman. "So make sure your bike's in good condition and take a refresher Experienced Rider Course - and watch for traffic around you as you ride."
Sergeant Roller said to help prevent motorcycle mishaps, the Air Force is offering motorcycle safety courses at Lackland AFB this spring.
The Basic Rider Course takes place at Lackland April 15-16, May 20-21 and June 24-25. The Experienced Rider Course will be offered at Lackland April 19 and June 21, and the Sport Bike Rider Course will be offered at Lackland Monday, April 12 and May 10.
Sergeant Roller created a motorcycle safety Community of Practice page on the Air Force Portal that gives details about motorcycle training, licensing, Texas motorcycle laws, motorcycle program requirements and safety statistics.
Additionally, Sergeant Roller is planning a mentor's meeting during the first week of March for experienced motorcycle riders in each Randolph squadron who track statistics on their units' motorcyclists.
Historically, statistics show motorcycle mishaps rise in the spring, Sergeant Roller explained.
Last spring, from March 1 - May 22, there were 11 private motor vehicle fatalities across the Air Force. Slightly more than two-thirds of those fatalities occurred on motorcycles. Among riders killed last year, half were 40 years or older. This is up from nine percent of all rider deaths in 1982 and 15 percent in 1991.
Nationally, motorcyclist deaths hit a record 5,091 in 2008, representing 14 percent of all crash deaths, said Robbie Bogard, Air Education Training Command Safety and Occupational Health Specialist. "In contrast, more passenger vehicle occupants -- 25,428 -- died in crashes in 2008 than in any year since the government began record keeping."
Mr. Bogard added motorcyclist deaths have more than doubled since 1997 and AETC, during the last decade, lost 30 Airmen operating motorcycles, 12 of which were spring deaths.
"We have not had a single year where we did not experience a motorcycle fatality. Our vision for this decade is to reduce motorcycle fatalities to zero," Mr. Bogard said.
A 10-year analysis from fiscal 1999-2008 of all motorcycle mishaps across the Air Force revealed the average motorcycle mishap victim was 27 and usually a staff sergeant or below in rank. Almost half of the mishaps happened at night and 15 percent of them involved alcohol; helmets weren't worn in 17 percent of them.
For motorcycle or vehicle-related safety information, visit https://www.my.af.mil/afknprod/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=22520 or go to www.my.af.mil and search for Randolph AFB Safety under the communities link.