Surviving Three Decades of Motorcycling

After 30 years of motorcycling and 25 years of Naval service, I feel blessed to still be a part of this great Navy. Most mornings I get up and wheel my motorcycle out of the garage and give it the once over. (The relationship between motorcyclists and their bikes is usually special and I'm no different.) After I turn on the fuel and pull out the choke, I check that the bike is in neutral and start the engine to allow it to warm up. While that is happening, I put on my riding jacket and my riding glasses. I insert my ear-plugs (highway riding wind and noise tend to cause me earaches) and don my DOT-approved helmet. One last check of the bike and it's off to work.

I love to ride. As a motorcycle rider stationed at the Naval Safety Center, I see too many messages and reports of motorcyclists who are injured and killed. It should come as no surprise that the number one killer of Sailors and Marines is motor vehicles, and motorcycles are a strong contributor. The ratio of accidents to motorcycle riders is just unacceptable.

When we analyze the data from the many mishap reports and look for the common causal factors that contribute to so many motorcycle deaths, we find they are usually the result of normally safe riders who lose situational awareness for a few seconds and become statistics. The serious accidents happen with a little showing off here, or hot-dogging there or trying to look cool in front of friends.

So how do we address this serious problem? Already in place are regulations that require every active duty motorcyclist to complete the motorcycle rider safety course whether riding on or off base. In fact, this course is given free of charge on most bases. Also, active-duty Sailors and Marines are required to wear personal protective equipment both on and off base at all times.

Maybe we should keep Sailors and Marines from riding motorcycles. Sound too far-fetched to ever happen? To quote ESPN's Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend." That is an often-heard cry of many non-motorcycle riding researchers. So how do we make motorcycling safer and protect our motorcycle privileges?

The way I see it, the key to enjoyable and safe motorcycling is confidence. We need to have confidence in our machines, our motorcycle-handling skills, our risk-awareness skills, and our ability to properly read and react to developing traffic and road hazards.

I can hear you now: "I can do that," you're saying. "I've been to the Motorcycle Rider Course. I always wear my helmet and safety equipment."

Well, my friend, knowledge is power, but knowledge isn't enough. Having knowledge and applying it to the right situation at the right time is real power. We can have the most beautiful and technologically advanced motorcycle in the world, but without the rider, it's just a beautiful piece of machinery. Unless knowledge is applied, the most educated motorcycle rider, wearing the most technologically advanced protective equipment, will end up just as dead as the moron who wiped out wearing shorts, flip-flops and no helmet while going 110 on a wet highway.

I ride for enjoyment. Accidents are not enjoyable. Why do you ride? Think about your bike and all your protective equipment and where you drive and then ask yourself: "Am I applying all of my knowledge of safety? What risks am I willing to accept?"

Be safe and keep the shiny side up. -