Don't become another statistic

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brandon May
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas --  More Air Force riders are getting killed due to speed than any other reason, according to a study by the Combat Command Safety Directorate.

"These results imply that speeding represented nearly three times the negative effects of riding while intoxicated, eight times the negative effects of fatigue, and over six times the negative effects of riding without required training," said Col. James Alan Marshall, Headquarters Air Combat Command, director of safety, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

It was also discovered that 63-percent of fatalities involved willful non-compliance with guidance by traveling at least 20 mph above the posted speed limit.

"As Total Force Air Force members, we have precise requirements, guidelines and instructions which must be followed on duty. When it comes to motorcycle riding and other off-duty activities, we need to use the same principles of risk management we use daily at work," said Lt. Col. James Thompson, 47th Flying Training Wing chief of safety. "Go out and have fun by all means, but we can't leave our safety-focused mindset and risk-management training at our duty locations."

There are clubs that are associated with the Air Force that try to prevent accidents and fatalities from happening.

One Green Knights charter, a Department of Defense motorcycle club that works to combat against motorcycle fatalities, resides here at Laughlin. The Green Knights stand for safety and address the needs and concerns of military and Department of Defense civilian riders, through education, safety knowledge and the shared joy of riding.

"The Green Knights always strive to set a good example for other to follow," said Jimmy Hedtkamp, 47th Force Support Squadron club operations manager and president of the Green Knights chapter 101 here."The ultimate goal is safety and to ensure mentorship, which are key for survival, so we assign a mentor to all new riders who wish to be Knights."