Photo By Staff Sgt. Candice Harrison | A soldier participates in the Basic Rider Course at Fort Bliss, Texas, Sept. 21. ...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- The motorcycle mentors board of the 1st Armored Division drafted changes to the current post motorcycle policy and is awaiting final approval.
The proposed policy changes will ensure motorcyclist are safer and return accountability back to the riders.
The current motorcycle policy was not written by motorcycle riders, whereas the new policy was written by riders, for the riders.
“What we want to do with the policy is make it effective,” said Lt. Col. Jason M. Halloren, commander of 3rd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment. “We want to put the responsibility on the rider. Make the command ensure that [the rider] has taken all the necessary steps, but the responsibility goes to the rider.”
The first major change to the policy is allowing a rider to wear a motorcycle jacket made of leather, Kevlar or other protective materials without a reflective vest covering it. Halloren emphasized that according to the safety studies, motorcycle accidents are not happening because the riders are not being seen.
A rider may decide they don’t want to cover up their expensive, protective jacket with a reflective vest and choose to wear a brightly colored long sleeve T-shirt, which is allowed in the current policy.
“Now, if I wear a black-leather-padded jacket designed for motorcycle riding, I don’t have to wear that brightly colored [reflective vest],” said Halloren. “If I fall, the [reflective vest] isn’t going to do anything for me.”
Another change that is awaiting final approval is the Motorcycle Refresher Training.
MRT is required after a soldier has been deployed for more than 180 days. According to Army Regulation 385-10, the only necessary training consists of watching a DVD. Staff Sgt. Gregory S. Davis, brigade mentor for motorcycle safety, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, came up with additional exercises for the division’s MRT.
“I purposely made the exercises so they could be set up in any parking lot,” said Davis. The exercises consist of four basic maneuvers necessary for all motorcycle riders; stopping quickly, limited space maneuvers, curves and hazard avoidance.
Davis is the enlisted representative on the motorcycle mentors board, while Halloren fills the officer slot and Darrell A. Durr, from the Installation Safety Office, represents civilians. The board members have been riding motorcycles for a long time and were voted into their positions by unit level motorcycle mentors.
The policy changes are a combined effort of the motorcycle mentors here, with the board members fine tuning the final product. The changes not only provide the rider with rules for the road, but also allow them to become safer and better riders.
“We are giving you the opportunity to succeed, to excel, to ride safely and to be smart about your riding,” said Halloren. “Be smart, and enjoy the ride.”
Although the final draft of the policy is awaiting approval, the board members are excited to see their hard work come to life. The changes will not only help keep riders safer, they can also transform inexperienced riders into better riders.
“There are old riders, and there are bold riders. There are no old, bold riders,” Halloren reiterates. “There is some truth to that.”
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2012 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 95459 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 332 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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