Critical days of summer: Practicing motorcycle safety Published June 16, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Lerone Foster 87th Air Base Wing Ground Safety apprentice JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST -- It's summertime and the riding season is here. Riders are pulling out their bikes and getting ready for the next few months of good outdoor weather and getting in the wind. \ But this time of year also signals an increase in mishaps. Last year, according to the latest data available from the Federal Highway Administration, there were 7.1 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2008, compared with 137.8 million passenger cars. Motorcycles accounted for nearly 3 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.4 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With some 123,000 motorcycles involved in crashes in 2007, including property damage-only crashes, according to the latest data from the NHTSA, motorcycle safety is vital to everyday that you ride. Here are some simple tips to make sure every ride is a safe one: T-CLOCS: To help ensure you have a trouble-free ride, conduct a simple pre-ride inspection of your motorcycle. Inspect your bike before you ride using the T-CLOCS inspection. The T-CLOCS inspection consists of checking these areas of your bike: Tires and wheels air pressure, tread, spokes, bearings and brakes; Control levers, switches, cables, hoses and throttle; Lights and electronic switches are in working conditions; Oil and fluid checks, check coolant, hydraulic fluid and fuel levels; Chassis--check the suspension and drive components, adjust for passenger load and check motorcycle operator's manual for suspension settings; Side stand--check the tension spring on your kickstand. Proper protective equipment, or PPE: Your PPE is your first line of protection when you are on a motorcycle. PPE consists of the following: Helmet--used to protect the head and brain, provide comfort and protect against hearing loss. Helmets are designed to spread the force of impact throughout the helmet so less of the impact energy reaches the head or brain. Use Department of Transportation approved helmets. Also use eye and face protection (either goggles or visors) to protect from wind, insect, dust and pebbles. Jacket-get a jacket made of leather or other man-made abrasion-resistant material. The jacket is designed to fit snugly, while containing extra padding to provide protection. Longer sleeves with full shoulders increase comfort while in a sitting position with your hands on the handle bars. Gloves-full-fingered gloves protect from the wind, sun, heat, and cold. Use reinforced stitching and a gauntlet style. Gloves also protect hands and wrists in case of a crash. Long pants-always wear jeans or long pants made of leather or an abrasive-resistant material, which should be cut longer in length to cover your ankles while sitting. Footwear-over the ankle footwear or boots are needed to provide valuable foot and ankle protection in a crash. Visibility-ensure you are visible at all times in daylight and at night. Use reflective vest, reflective jackets, brightly colored jackets and a placing a louder exhaust or LED lights as well. Road conditions and weather--be sure to check the weather for road conditions, and also the temperature to prevent hyperventilation. Enjoy riding this summer, and remember you can eliminate most safety hazards by just practicing these simple tips.