advertisement
advertisement
Riding Responsibly Saves Lives
"The intent today is to promote motorcycle safety," said U.S. Army Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Federico Boyce at the Motorcycle Safety Forum and Group Ride May 2 at the Community Activities Center.
The Fort Detrick community has many members that enjoy riding motorcycles, for a variety of purposes. Regardless of whether someone is commuting to work or riding cross country, it remains essential that each person follow specific safety precautions. "Ride responsibly and make yourself visible," said Boyce.
Motorcycle deaths are among leading causes of death in the Army. Wearing a helmet has been proven to save lives in motorcycle crashes. Research shows that helmets save lives by reducing the occurrence of head injuries, while not reducing vision or hearing.
Guest speaker, Col. James Sheets spoke about safety while tour riding. Tour riding entails a longer trip, sometimes thousands of miles. "I've really developed a love and passion for cross country riding," said Sheets.
If someone is planning a road trip on their bike, they should take into consideration some special safety precautions. "If you're going on a road trip, pack your bike down a week before and practice riding it all packed down, know how your bike handles," said Sheets. "Also, know your bike's maintenance needs and know your route."
After the Safety messages at the Community Activities Center, riders were invited to go on a group ride through Frederick. The group ride left from the Opussumtown gate and traveled up Route 15 North for a scenic ride through back country roads to the Mountaindale Convenient Store, where the group took a break and discussed their ride.