The Marine Corps is working to develop a new motorcycle safety training course that would target inexperienced riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an effort to stem deaths and serious injuries caused by motorcycle accidents, Marine Corps Safety Division officials are now developing the Riders Essential Skills Training \u2014 or REST \u2014 course. Officials have the admirable, if not unrealistic, goal of attaining “mishap-free riding.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accidents remain a mainstay of monthly safety reports, even after the Corps overhauled training several years ago that requires mandatory courses throughout the military career of a Marine motorcycle rider. Despite a dramatic decrease in motorcycle fatalities since a high of 25 in 2008, accidents and death remain a persistent problem with one Marine already killed just 20 days into fiscal 2015, according to statistics published by the Naval Safety Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still under development, REST will work to combat preventable motorcycle accidents that are the result of rider error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Primary lessons will cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 Tire contact and traction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 Cornering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 Braking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 Hazard avoidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u25a0 Personal Protective Equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If a rider is proficient in even the most basic skills, such as braking effectively and negotiating a curve properly, the chance of an accident is decreased exponentially,” a Marine news release about the course states. “Many beginning riders drastically underestimate the capabilities and limitation of a motorcycle, and consequently pay the price for that negligence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s not immediately clear how the new course will fit with current motorcycle safety course requirements, including whether it will be mandatory or optional and whether it will complement or replace current training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To develop the new course, the Marine Corps’ Safety Division gathered leaders from Marine Corps Installations Command; Marine Corps Installations West; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California; MCI East, Hawaii; and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Potential course layouts and exercises that will emphasize the mastery of “proper braking and cornering techniques at realistic speeds” are still being developed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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