JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Spring is here and so is the warm weather which means it's time to uncover that motorcycle, dust it off and hit the road. With that in mind, and after seeing one of our young active-duty members riding his motorcycle on base without the proper personal protective equipment, it dawned on me what my Diamond Tip should cover this week.
Before riding, Air Force members need to take, at a minimum, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course. You will need to have the proper PPE on, including a helmet, long trousers, long-sleeve shirt or jacket, full fingered gloves, a bright upper garment during the day and a reflective belt across the upper garment at night. You must also wear boots that cover the ankles.
Before every ride, perform a safety check of your motorcycle; check tire inflation, fluid levels, ensure your turn signals and brake lights are operating and get any required maintenance done as soon as possible.
On the road, it is your job to leave a safety area between you and the vehicle in front of you. YOU have to pay attention, not only to what you are doing, but to what the other drivers on the road are doing. More than likely, they are not looking for bikers; they are probably looking at text messages or talking on the phone.
Last year, the Air Force lost 14 members due to motorcycle accidents and two members were listed as being totally disabled. I don't want to attend any funerals for any bike riders here at Charleston. I care about you as part of the Joint Base Charleston team, and I am sure your loved ones do not want to see anything bad happen to you either.
Be careful and watch out for yourselves and each other.