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Team Eglin hosts critical motorcycle safety day

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The timing for Team Eglin's third annual Motorcycle Safety Day March 12, proved crucial in light of the recent motorcycle fatality that claimed the life of an Eglin Airman. 

Dark skies and the threat of rain did not keep the 220 bikers from showing up to the safety discussions and activities and to socialize with other bikers.

"Motorcycle safety is everyone's concern, not just the riders," said Col. William Porter, 96th Air Base Wing vice commander, who spoke at the event. "This safety day serves not only as a refresher for our riders, but offers a great opportunity for more experienced riders to mentor less experienced riders. This is a great program our safety offices put together."

He also noted that "non-motorcycle drivers need to be more aware and cautious around bikes, both on and off base; people forget to look for bikes when driving."

This year's event, which also included a riding skills course and a group ride, acted as a forum for all of Eglin's bikers to be better informed about the dangers they face. During the event, there was a moment of silence and a prayer read for Master Sgt. Wali Lanier, 678th Armament Systems Squadron, who died in a motorcycle accident a week before.

That somber moment and the statistics shown at the briefing made it very clear. Motorcycle deaths increased in the Air Force in 2009 with 20. Although Eglin did not have any fatalities in 2009, the base had four motorcycle accidents/injuries last year.

A new feature this year was the inclusion of an interactive motorcycle simulator that allowed riders to experience the shifts and leans of a riding.

"Unfortunately with regard to motorcycles, trends indicate an increase in recklessness and noncompliance with traffic laws among younger riders, especially sport-bike riders," said Ronald Shenkel, Air Armament Center safety office. "Today's event provides those of us within the safety profession an opportunity to plant a seed with Team Eglin riders about being motorcycle safety aware at all times. Our hope and genuine concern is the message is well received."

The skies cleared as the riders moved outdoors to the riding course and best-bike competition, where bikers performed slalom maneuvers through cones, completed a sudden stop and swerve objective and rode a slow race. Once the competition was over and awards were given out and the riders rode together on a 60-mile group ride.

"This is a critical time to reemphasize motorcycle safety," said Joe Bailey, head of 53d Wing ground safety. "Knowledge is protection and that's our goal - to give the riders a first-hand 'wheels on road' experience - and I think we accomplished that."