thedrifter
12-27-08, 07:24 PM
Safety course requirements to increase for military motorcyclists
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December 27, 2008 - 6:36 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
Marines and sailors who own motorcycles will soon be required to take an extra safety course.
Currently, Marines and sailors must take and pass one course - the Basic Rider Course - if they own a motorcycle. But a new Marine Corps order is expected any day, requiring an additional course based on what type of bike they own. The courses are mandatory even if the Marine does not plan to ride the motorcycle on base.
One of the two courses, the Experienced Rider Course, already existed, but was not mandatory. Now, Marines will be required to take either the ERC for cruiser-type motorcycles or the new Military Sport Bike Course for sport bikes, said Bob Dubois, safety officer for II Marine Expeditionary Force. The sport bike course has been offered at Camp Lejeune since October.
Marine Corps and Navy leaders saw the need for a sport-bike specific course when they looked at wreck data and saw how many involved sport bikes, Dubois said. Sport bikes have different capabilities than cruisers, and the riders tend to be younger and have a different attitude about riding, so it makes sense to have a separate course, he said.
Sgt. Martin Hernandez, of 8th Communications Battalion, has been riding for four years, but recently bought a new sport bike. During a break in a recent Military Sport Bike Course, he said he thinks the new requirement is a good thing.
"Marines get crazy on bikes. They can use all the training they can get," he said.
Hernandez said the course made him more comfortable with his new bike, and was the first time he had ridden in the rain.
"You can never have enough training," he said. "It doesn't matter how experienced you think you are, there's always more you can learn."
Lance Cpl. Eddie Martinez, of 10th Marine Regiment, was also taking the course. He said he has been riding for about two years, but wanted to learn more.
"I'm getting a little better at looking through the corners," he said.
Riding around town, "I see a lot of people braking wrong, skidding all over the place," Martinez said. "I think it's going to help. It makes people safer."
Sgt. Dustin McDaniel, of 2nd Tank Battalion, said he thought the class was already mandatory. He has been riding for more than six years, but said he thinks it will be very beneficial for newer riders.
"I'd say like 90 percent of the riders around here haven't ridden before," he said.
The ERC and MSBC teach things like throttle control, steering and braking, Dubois said, things that can give less experienced riders trouble.
Though the number of motorcycle accidents has been increasing, Dubois said some of that can be attributed to the rapidly increasing number of motorcycle riders. He also said alcohol and speeding are generally not what cause the crashes. Of the 70 motorcycle incidents within II MEF in 2008, only five were alcohol-related, and only 16 involved excessive speed, Dubois said.
And while many people think Marines and sailors are coming home from deployments and buying bikes, 35 of the 70 service members involved in wrecks this year had never deployed, he said.
There is some good news, he said. Since Oct. 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, there haven't been any motorcycle fatalities in II MEF, Dubois said. Last year there were already two by this time.
"I think we're making progress, but progress is slow," he said.
The base also offers training beyond what is required, Dubois said. The Advanced Motorcycle Operator's School will have 10 sessions in 2009, up from eight in 2008, Dubois said. And the base is setting up a "Day at the Track," where riders can practice track skills at road speed under supervision.
Training and mentorship are key, Dubois said, which is why the new Marine Administrative Message will also change the name of the unit motorcycle clubs to the motorcycle mentorship program. The idea is to have the older Marines and more experienced riders mentor the younger service members, so everyone can be safer.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467
Ellie
Comments | Recommend
December 27, 2008 - 6:36 PM
JENNIFER HLAD
Marines and sailors who own motorcycles will soon be required to take an extra safety course.
Currently, Marines and sailors must take and pass one course - the Basic Rider Course - if they own a motorcycle. But a new Marine Corps order is expected any day, requiring an additional course based on what type of bike they own. The courses are mandatory even if the Marine does not plan to ride the motorcycle on base.
One of the two courses, the Experienced Rider Course, already existed, but was not mandatory. Now, Marines will be required to take either the ERC for cruiser-type motorcycles or the new Military Sport Bike Course for sport bikes, said Bob Dubois, safety officer for II Marine Expeditionary Force. The sport bike course has been offered at Camp Lejeune since October.
Marine Corps and Navy leaders saw the need for a sport-bike specific course when they looked at wreck data and saw how many involved sport bikes, Dubois said. Sport bikes have different capabilities than cruisers, and the riders tend to be younger and have a different attitude about riding, so it makes sense to have a separate course, he said.
Sgt. Martin Hernandez, of 8th Communications Battalion, has been riding for four years, but recently bought a new sport bike. During a break in a recent Military Sport Bike Course, he said he thinks the new requirement is a good thing.
"Marines get crazy on bikes. They can use all the training they can get," he said.
Hernandez said the course made him more comfortable with his new bike, and was the first time he had ridden in the rain.
"You can never have enough training," he said. "It doesn't matter how experienced you think you are, there's always more you can learn."
Lance Cpl. Eddie Martinez, of 10th Marine Regiment, was also taking the course. He said he has been riding for about two years, but wanted to learn more.
"I'm getting a little better at looking through the corners," he said.
Riding around town, "I see a lot of people braking wrong, skidding all over the place," Martinez said. "I think it's going to help. It makes people safer."
Sgt. Dustin McDaniel, of 2nd Tank Battalion, said he thought the class was already mandatory. He has been riding for more than six years, but said he thinks it will be very beneficial for newer riders.
"I'd say like 90 percent of the riders around here haven't ridden before," he said.
The ERC and MSBC teach things like throttle control, steering and braking, Dubois said, things that can give less experienced riders trouble.
Though the number of motorcycle accidents has been increasing, Dubois said some of that can be attributed to the rapidly increasing number of motorcycle riders. He also said alcohol and speeding are generally not what cause the crashes. Of the 70 motorcycle incidents within II MEF in 2008, only five were alcohol-related, and only 16 involved excessive speed, Dubois said.
And while many people think Marines and sailors are coming home from deployments and buying bikes, 35 of the 70 service members involved in wrecks this year had never deployed, he said.
There is some good news, he said. Since Oct. 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, there haven't been any motorcycle fatalities in II MEF, Dubois said. Last year there were already two by this time.
"I think we're making progress, but progress is slow," he said.
The base also offers training beyond what is required, Dubois said. The Advanced Motorcycle Operator's School will have 10 sessions in 2009, up from eight in 2008, Dubois said. And the base is setting up a "Day at the Track," where riders can practice track skills at road speed under supervision.
Training and mentorship are key, Dubois said, which is why the new Marine Administrative Message will also change the name of the unit motorcycle clubs to the motorcycle mentorship program. The idea is to have the older Marines and more experienced riders mentor the younger service members, so everyone can be safer.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467
Ellie