Safety personnel looking out for motorcyclists

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Last year the Air Force experienced 12 motorcycle-related fatalities. In an effort to ensure that number does not increase, members of the 66th Air Base Group Safety office are reminding military riders that they must attend mandatory initial or refresher motorcycle training prior to operating a motorcycle.

At Hanscom, Safety personnel track attendance of motorcycle training and provide risk management awareness to military personnel.

A "Basic Rider Course" and an "Advanced Rider Course" are reimbursable for Title 10 active duty Air Force personnel assigned to Hanscom, active duty military personnel at tenant units, as well as active duty personnel administered by Hanscom and assigned to local colleges.

The Air Force requires military riders who purchase a motorcycle to attend the "Basic Rider Course 1" before riding on or off base.

"After completing the 'Basic Rider Course' to receive their license, riders are required to complete intermediate training 60 days to one year after," said Staff Sgt. Shaun Bassett, 66 ABG occupational safety craftsman, who added that the Advanced Rider Course fulfills the intermediate training requirement.

Military members are then required to attend a refresher training session every five years.

To find a local motorcycle safety course, visit https://www.msf-usa.org/.

All active duty Airmen must make contact with their motorcycle safety representative, Bassett said, to ensure military riders are entered in the Air Force Motorcycle Unit Safety Tracking Tool, also known as MUSTT. Members must have a briefing with their commander, an annual safety briefing and rider training documented in MUSTT.

According to Air Force Instruction 91-207, motorcycle safety representatives must track unit motorcycle, motor scooters and three-wheeled vehicle riders.

In addition, AFI 91-207 and Department of Defense Instruction 6055.04 require that motorcycle operators and their passengers wear proper protective clothing while operating on a military installation; this applies to both military members and civilians. For military personnel, the protective clothing requirement remains in effect off the installation, and it highly encouraged for civilian riders.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has designated May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.

"Motorcycles are vehicles with the same rights and privileges as any motor vehicle on the roadway," said Bassett. "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is an initiative aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to share the road with each other."

For further information on this monthlong initiative, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/Motorcycles or for specific state motorcycle laws, visit http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/State-Laws.aspx.

For further information about motorcycle safety at Hanscom, as well as for the reimbursement process, contact the Safety Office at 781-225-5584. Personnel may also visit the Safety SharePoint page at https://cs3.eis.af.mil/sites/24169/default.aspx and click on the "Motorcycle Safety" tab.