Motorcycle mentorship key to rider survivability

by USAOTC Public Affairs


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Courtesy photo


Motorcycle mentorship is a leader mission, and as with any mission, safety is behind that mission.

Risk can be mitigated through creating and promoting an organizational culture in which safety awareness, use of the risk management process and enforcement of standards are synonymous with caring for Soldiers, training and leadership.

Motorcycle safety through mentorship emphasizes training and coaching as ways to help riders maximize their skills, eliminate reckless behavior and gain experience.

It is part of our duty to mentor Soldiers throughout their careers, so those who ride deserve mentoring just as much, and we should do everything we can to encourage Soldier motorcyclist participation in the Motorcycle Mentorship Program.

Keeping motorcyclists alive is helping make them become aware they are all motorcycle mentors to each other, and their direct involvement in effective training is the edge they need.

Leaders have the responsibility to ensure fully trained Soldiers are riding operationally safe motorcycles in a disciplined manner and complete all mandatory motorcycle training.

The National Highway Safety Administration, says across our country, there are over 4 million registered motorcycles in America, or just two percent of all registered vehicles.

While about five percent of all roadway fatalities involve motorcycles each year, 80 percent of those crashes result in injury or death. For automobiles, those figures lower to only 20 percent.

NHTSA’s motorcycle fact sheet says 5,286 motorcyclists were killed across America during 2016 – 28 times more frequently than passenger car occupant deaths.

Statistics show all Army installations worldwide having nearly 33,500 motorcycles registered.

Since the inception of the MMP in 2011, motorcycle fatalities have declined steadily from a high of 45 that fiscal year to a low of 26 in 2015. Engaged leadership and responsible ridership have greatly contributed to this decline.

Of the FY15 26 Army fatal motorcycle mishaps, 11 of those were due to rider indiscipline. Speed, failure to attend training, failure to wear PPE (helmet) and alcohol use while riding were predominant factors.

Of those accidents, 62 percent occurred over a weekend, 54 percent involved a leader in the grade of E-5 or above and 65 percent were over the age of 25.

Eighty-eight percent of those accidents occurred between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. with 50 percent occurring between 5 and 11 p.m.

Leaders have been involved in more than 50 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents for the last 10 years. So, leaders checking leaders is essential to reduce this disturbing trend.

We like to use the phrase, “Do a thousand little things routinely,” and our motorcycle safety requirements are something that should also be routine.

With that all being said, whenever going out for a unit MMP ride, stop for a meal and some good fellowship. But most importantly, we’re going to be on the road together, taking our time and arriving back home safely, while learning a thing or two along the way.


Source:  Fort Hood Sentinel, July 19, 2018

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