I can’t drive 55: Motorcyclists need to be safe, use common sense Published June 26, 2007 By Lt. Col. Carleton Hirschel 90th Force Support Squadron commander F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- "I Can't Drive 55" was one of Sammy Hagar's great songs and videos. Unfortunately, now the only things I think about when I hear that song is death and destruction. It reminds me of an Airman at Base X that had just returned from an air expeditionary force deployment. He had all kinds of tax free money and wanted to get a motorcycle. The dealer convinced him if he didn't have a large enough bike to start with, he'd regret it later on when he needed to upgrade to a larger one. Even though the Airman had never ridden in the past, he took the dealer's advice and bought a 1000cc motorcycle. Twenty minutes later on the ride to his house, he hit a pole on the side of the road at over 130 miles per hour. Do you think you're different? If you're a young, male Airman, the odds say not. The Air Force 10-year average is 14.6 accidents per year for motorcycles. That number has been on the rise. In 2002, the Air Force had 19 fatalities; in 2003, it was 23; in 2004, it was 22; in 2005 it was 15 and in 2006 it was 17. So far, in 2007, there have been 10 motorcycle fatalities. How did this happen? The statistics from the Air Force Safety Center tell part of the tale. Ninety-five percent of the riders were male, 85 percent were between 20 and 28, 75 percent of the accidents occurred on "crotch rockets," 63 percent were the riders' fault, 52 percent were senior airmen and staff sergeants, and alcohol was a factor only 10 percent of the time. Some people might ask: "Why are you telling me this?" or "I already knew this." I'm telling everyone because the people that know these facts aren't the people I need to explain these statistics to. If you ride a motorcycle, be aware and use these tips to be safe: - Always wear a helmet and protective gear. - Always ride with your lights on. - Always put yourself in a position to be visible. - Always signal your intentions. - Be extra careful at intersections. - Know your limits as a rider and use operational risk management. Other drivers can help too by following these tips: - Look for motorcyclists and pay attention to their signals. - Don't tailgate. - Respect the vehicle space of motorcyclists (the entire lane belongs to that vehicle). - When passing a motorcycle get at least two seconds ahead of it before pulling back into the lane. - Be extra careful at intersections (43 percent of motorcycle accidents occur at intersections). In addition, the Department of Defense and Air Force have implemented some policies to help encourage safe motorcycle riding. Riders on base must be appropriately clothed and have completed the motorcycle safety foundation beginning rider's course. All squadrons with motorcycle riders are required to have a list of riders in the squadron and a MENTOR (Motorists Encouraging Novices to Operate Responsibly) program. As a motorcycle rider, squadron commander and the base mortuary officer, I urge you to be safe, follow the rules and use common sense. I don't want to see you anytime soon for the wrong reason.