Motorcycle season revs up with safety class

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Shawn D. Rice
  • 66th Air Base Group Safety Office
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Although fun and economical, motorcycles can be dangerous to the inexperienced or careless rider. The 66th Air Base Group Safety Office will host a preseason motorcycle safety briefing at the Hanscom Conference Center in the Concord Room on March 30 at 1 p.m.

This safety briefing will clarify any misconceptions or confusion that may exist about the personal protective equipment requirements and training requirements for Hanscom riders. The briefing will feature local speakers from riding groups like the Green Knights and the Patriot Guard Riders.

The briefing is mandatory for all Hanscom military personnel who operate or intend to operate a motorcycle on or off base and Department of Defense civilians who wish to ride on base while on duty. Contractors are welcome, but are not required to attend.

Air Force Instruction 91-207, the U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program, requires all Air Force personnel to attend an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation course prior to operating a motorcycle on or off duty, and regardless of the member's decision to ride the motorcycle on a military installation.

Air Force civilian personnel operating a motorcycle while on duty must also attend or have attended an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, regardless of the member's decision to ride the motorcycle on a Department of Defense installation.

All Air Force Materiel Command military personnel who are 26 years old and under are required to complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, or equivalent, every three years.

There are two types of courses offered: the basic rider course and an experienced rider course. Any military member or Department of Defense civilian assigned to or residing on Hanscom is eligible to receive training vouchers to attend a contracted course.

There is no set schedule for the basic rider course or the experienced rider course. To request an application for a safety course, e-mail the safety office at 66.abg.se.cmb@hanscom.af.mil. For more information, contact the safety office at 781-377-5135.