Motorcycle safety starts with you Published June 10, 2010 By Abraham Malit 87th Air Base Wing Safety Office JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- More motorcycle riders will occupy the road as the temperature begins to change and becomes tolerable. We are held to higher standards of compliance while riding motorcycles and in our everyday lives as military members. We will need to adhere to training requirements and personal protective equipment requirements mandated by Air Force instructions to meet these standards. All military members who ride motorcycles on and off-base, and Department of Defense civilians riding on base or in performance of their duties off-base, will wear the PPE as outlined in AFI 91-207. Family members, retirees and contractors riding motorcycles on base are required to abide by the same protective standards while riding on base. PPE requirements include: - A helmet, designed to meet or exceed Department of Transportation standards, will be worn and properly fastened under the chin. The mandatory wear of helmets for motorcycle operation also applies to operators and passengers operating any two-wheeled motor vehicle regardless of the engine size. - Goggles, wrap-around glasses or a full-face shield designed to meet or exceed American National Standards Institute Standard Z87.1. - Sturdy, over-the-ankle footwear protecting the feet and ankles. -Protective clothing including long sleeve shirts or jacket, long trousers and full-fingered gloves. - A brightly-colored outer-upper garment during the day and a reflective upper garment during the night. The outer-upper garment must be visible at all times. Backpacks are authorized if they have brightly colored or reflective properties. Members of the base community must be properly trained ride a motorcycle. The military has a huge investment in all of us. Here is a list of training requirements that must be accomplished before riding a motorcycle: - All active-duty motorcycle riders must complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved motorcycle safety course prior to riding. Sports bike riders are required to complete the Advance Riding Skill Course. - All active-duty personnel who operate a motorcycle on a roadway, and all operators of government-owned motorcycles, must complete at least one Air Mobility Command-approved motorcycle rider education course every three years. This may include retaking a previously completed course. - For most of us, our motorcycles have been in storage for several months. After the long wait for good weather, or if you ride infrequently, it is easy to forget the basics. Conduct a thorough inspection of your bike before the first ride of the season and conduct pre-ride inspections before each ride. Items to be inspected include, but are not limited to: tire pressure, wheels, brakes, controls, light check, oils and other fluids, chassis for cracks and kick-stand operability. Riders are their own best defense when it comes to safe motorcycle operations. Remember, motorcycle safety starts with you! Contact the 87th Air Base Wing Safety Office at 754-SAFE for additional guidelines.