JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Motorcycle riders heard from a variety of agencies emphasizing the importance of safety at the Joint Base San Antonio Motorcycle Safety Fair held at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Exchange parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 6.
Safety officials from the 502d Air Base Wing Safety Office, Texas Department of Transportation, the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office talked riders through proper risk management, use of protective equipment, and training.
There will also be a "Best Bike" competition with prizes for first, second and third places. Deadline for entry is March 3 and people can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094CABA82BAAFF2-55010329-motorcycle#/
During the past fiscal year, the US Air Force lost 16 people due to motorcycle mishaps and suffered another five already this fiscal year. Preliminary reports show these mishaps had contributory factors such as excessive speed, alcohol consumption, insufficient training and improper or no PPE.
Most - if not all – of these mishaps were preventable if members would have used proper risk management and personal accountability. While none of the Airmen lost are from JBSA, the Headquarters Air Force Safety Center has requested all installations to conduct a motorcycle safety fair.
Do you intend to operate a motorcycle this spring? If so, do you intend to do it in a military status – Title 10 orders, annual tour, and/or to and from unit training assemblies? Keep in mind, there are additional Air Force training and administrative requirements in accordance with Air Force Instruction 91-207, The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program.
Last fiscal year, the Department of the Air Force suffered 10 motorcycle fatalities and a recorded 121 motorcycle mishaps. Seven Airmen have already been lost this fiscal year due to motorcycle mishaps.
Preliminary reports show these mishaps had contributory factors such as excessive speed, alcohol consumption, insufficient training (overdue or no training entered in Motorcycle Unit Safety Tracking Tool, or MUSTT, and improper or no personal protective equipment.
Any member who operates a motorcycle in a military status requires a MUSTT account, which can be set up through your unit Motorcycle Safety Representative, or MSR, and is designed to track all Air Force motorcycle training requirements.
MUSTT was designed as a demographics tool in assisting riders with staying current on all required Air Force training and briefing requirements. This tool is monitored by unit motorcycle safety representatives to provide commanders with the information needed to ensure all unit riders are afforded the training and briefings in a manner complying with requirements.
All Air Force on-road motorcycle riders are required to enroll in, maintain, and have a MUSTT account in accordance with AFI 91-207, paragraph 1.3.11. – 1.3.11.6.
The Air Force requires several different levels of training to legally operate a motorcycle in a military status:
Level I – Initial training: Basic Rider’s Course or possess a state-endorsed motorcycle license in lieu of the course.
Level II – Intermediate training: Basic Rider’s Course 2 within one year of Level I training.
Level III – Refresher training: Basic Rider’s Course 2, Advanced Rider’s Course or attend a Motorcycle Mentorship Program (This level is required every five years).
Additionally, new operators must receive an initial motorcycle briefing, and every spring prior to the motorcycle season, an annual/pre-season briefing must be accomplished (Briefings are provided by unit MSRs).
“Most, if not all, of these motorcycle mishaps were preventable if members would have used proper risk management and personal accountability,” said A. Scott Winstead, occupational safety and health specialist with the 502d Air Base Wing Safety Office at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston. “The Air Force Chief of Safety is requesting our help to change this negative trend by engaging with our leadership team and the riding community.”