RAF Mildenhall motorcycle riders gear up for spring

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Preston Webb
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Now that spring is underway, many motorcycle riders will be dusting off their bikes and taking to the streets. With several hundred riders in the local area -- RAF Mildenhall alone is home to approximately 250 -- it's important to remember that safety is key.

Motorcycle riders are less visible on the roadways, due to their speed and small size, said Tech. Sgt. Cody Hobart, 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office ground safety manager from Davenport, Iowa.

"Look twice. Motorcycles are smaller objects than cars and can be hard to see," Hobart said. "Riders are trained to drive where they can be seen, but they aren't perfect. A small lapse in judgment on either part of a driver or rider can result in an accident."

One of the most common injuries sustained during a motorcycle accident is road rash on riders' hands, since they usually try to catch themselves as they land. Because of this and situations like it, Air Force Instruction 91-207 "The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program" covers personal protective equipment every rider must wear -- including a mandate that riders wear gloves incorporating abrasion-resistant material such as leather.

The instruction also protects riders by requiring them to wear long sleeve shirts, pants and over-the-ankle footwear.

"The rule of thumb is that you want all your skin to be covered," said Master Sgt. Kevin DeYoung, 100th Air Refueling Wing Inspector General superintendent from Cairo, an experienced rider who has logged almost 43,000 miles in the U.K. on his motorcycle.

According to the AFI, riders are strongly encouraged to wear garments which incorporate bright colors, abrasion-resistant material and impact-absorbing padding. This increases riders' visibility to avoid dangerous scenarios and their level of protection in the event they're in an accident.

"I remember an accident in which the rider's helmet split in two when he hit the ground," Hobart said. "The rider sustained injuries, but survived because the helmet did what it was meant to do -- absorbed the energy from the impact."

Although protective equipment can save a rider's life, it's best to avoid accidents entirely.

"Riders can reduce their risk of accident or injury in a number of ways," Hobart said. "They should attend the proper training, inspect their motorcycle before each and every ride, and be aware of their surroundings while they ride."

Due to the amount of local farm equipment entering and exiting traffic, the roads tend to be slick with mud. Local wildlife, such as rabbits and deer, can also be a hazard if they jump out in front of a motorcycle, DeYoung said.

Riding a little slower and paying attention to one's surroundings can help a rider to stay safe. Riders aren't the only ones responsible for their safety though; the attentiveness of all other drivers, especially at intersections, on the roadway is also a factor.

"The best advice that I ever received was, 'Don't look for a car or a truck, look to see if the road is empty,'" DeYoung said. "If you look for a car or truck, you might miss a motorcycle. If you look to see if the road is empty, you'll notice more in the roadway than you normally would."

For the safety of military members on a motorcycle, the AFI also encourages Airmen who ride to mentor other riders.

"Riders should seek out other riders to teach and learn from; they should make sure everyone is riding safely," Hobart said. "Riders should help police other riders, because ultimately they're protecting their wingman."