Warm weather brings out riders, safety focus

Published April 30, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Doug Hays
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Adding to the sounds of chirping birds and gentle rain of spring are thunderous roars of exhaust pipes.

Spring is back bringing motorcycles with it, and so Grissom's safety office is reminding all riders on how to be both safe and ride within Air Force requirements.

"Our number one priority is to keep people safe," said Jerry Skiles, 434th Air Refueling Wing weapons safety manager and motorcycle program coordinator.

There are approximately 140 motorcycle riders at Grissom, and all of them are required to wear the proper safety equipment and undergo a safety briefing that outlines what that equipment is and identifies local hazards, explained Skiles.

Unique to Indiana, is farm machinery and wildlife that may be a nuisance to those driving cars, but can be deadly to a motorcyclist.

"I hit a raccoon with my car recently and it caused $2,100 of damages," said Skiles. "For a person on a motorcycle, it could have been deadly."

Motorcycle education doesn't stop with a briefing.

Because Grissom doesn't have motorcycle safety trainers, the base has partnered with Indiana's American Bikers Aimed Toward Education.

"Riders can go through an ABATE course for certification," said Skiles. "While they must pay $50 for the course up front, once they successfully complete the program, we can reimburse them."

Because the courses are held throughout the state, reservists can find a course near them and schedule it around their lives.

Skiles said he also works with the 434th Security Forces Squadron personnel to ensure they know the standards to enforce when it comes to the proper riding attire.

"They are instructed to turn people away, who are not dressed appropriately," he explained. "Riders know the policies, and the cops enforce those policies."

When riders pull up to the gate, they are required to be wearing an approved helmet, proper eye protection, full-fingered gloves, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt or jacket, boots, and have a contrasting upper garment on their torso or reflective material.

"We have a lot of people that ride with backpacks on, and they must have reflective material on that as well if it covers up the reflective material on their torso," explained Skiles.

"The whole idea is to keep people safe," he continued. "We know with fuel prices you have more and more people riding bikes. We want to educate them and others so that everyone stays as safe as possible."

That doesn't end with the bike riders, as it also relates to those driving cars.

May is Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who in their campaign remind all motorists to safely share the road with motorcycles and to be extra alert to help keep motorcyclists safe.

Likewise, motorcyclists are reminded to make themselves visible to other motorists.

Most accidents are not caused by motorcycles, they are most often caused by drivers, explained Skiles.

A motorcycle is small and can easily be hidden in a blind spot, and so the safety office encouraged riders to get out of that blind spot as soon as possible.

They also remind riders that while motorcycles can accelerate quickly, they don't stop as fast and need more space to come to a halt.

"Hopefully with the education we provide, and the opportunities with ABATE, we can keep our riders safe," he concluded.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

Stay connected, visit Grissom on Facebook and Twitter.

News Search

Motorcycle safety

Warm weather brings out riders, safety focus

Public Affairs Staff