Photo By Staff Sgt. Stuart Bright | A member of the Green Knights awaits to begin the Thunder on the Bayou ride at...... read more read more
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As summer draws nearer, the weather is warming up and bikers are starting to revive their motorcycles from hibernation.
As bikers begin populating the road, they have a higher risk of injury due to less safety benefits as of someone who is driving a car.
“When it comes to motorcycle safety, even if you are right, you lose,” said Percy Adams, 2nd Bomb Wing occupational safety specialist. “You don’t have the protective metal of a car, you only have your clothes.”
Last year, two Barksdale Airmen were hospitalized with injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents. Brushing up on some safety tips could reduce the number of incidents to the Barksdale goal: none.
“Motorcycling in itself is not inherently dangerous; it is riskier than riding in a normal vehicle,” said Mike Dilda, Green Knights 75 Chapter president. “If done with knowledge, understanding and practice of proper techniques, and alert mind for the risk of riding, it is not that much more unsafe than any other method being out on the road.”
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has a checklist for motorcyclists to follow when inspecting their bike, using the acronym T-CLOCS.
◾Tires and wheels.
◾Controls.
◾Lights and electrics.
◾Oil and other fluids.
◾Chassis and suspension.
◾Stands.
“Know your bike, check your equipment and make sure it is in working order and you have the appropriate equipment to ride,” said Dilda. “Know who you are riding with, if you are in a larger group you may not know an individual in the group, so if they get in an accident there would be no way to identify them. Know what the plan is in general, where you are headed and where you are.”
According to AFI 91-207, motorcyclists must wear a helmet, eye protection, a long sleeve shirt or jacket, long pants, over ankle sturdy shoes, gloves and a bright color outer garment which must be reflective at night.
With the weather heating up and the skies beginning to clear, the open roads are calling. Keep these safety tips in mind, and have a safe ride.
| Date Taken: | 04.13.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.14.2017 13:16 |
| Story ID: | 230422 |
| Location: | BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 150 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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