General's

Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 18:47:39 -0500
From: Mike and Rebecca Stenger <mstenger@top.net>
Subject: USAF General's statement on motorcycles

Fellow Motorcyclists,
    I read the following message with disbelief. It was put out by General Walter Kross, a four-star who is the commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC) and United States Transportation Command. At least he is retiring soon. I would welcome any comments and am also sending a copy to the AMA.
    As an interesting side note, a USAF Lieutenant General and a passenger were killed recently while allegedly performing aerobatic maneuvers in a high-performance private airplane in Alaska. The USAF Aero Club at my base also offers instruction in aerobatic flying. I have not seen any statements discouraging *this* activity involving "unnecessary risk" yet, just motorcycling.

Technical Sergeant Michael Stenger, USAF

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Subject:      MOTORCYCLES -- REDUCING THE RISK
R 271815Z JUL 98
FM AMC SCOTT AFB IL//CC//
UNCLAS
SUBJECT: MOTORCYCLES -- REDUCING THE RISK

1. AS I REACH THE DOORSTEP OF RETIREMENT, I TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE. MERE WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS MY FEELINGS CONCERNING THE FATALITIES WE'VE EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF MOTORCYCLE MISHAPS. JUST THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE AIR FORCE HAS LOST 11 INDIVIDUALS. WHILE THESE NUMBERS MAY SEEM SMALL COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, THEY REPRESENT HUMAN BEINGS, LOST FOREVER TO THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

2. THREE AMC AIRMEN ARE DEAD BECAUSE THEY RODE MOTORCYCLES FOR THE APPARENT BENEFITS OF FREEDOM, ECONOMY, AND PERSONAL CHOICE! A1C SHAWN (name deleted) LOST CONTROL AT HIGH SPEED, WENT INTO A DITCH, AND STRUCK A POWER POLE. SSGT BRANCHE (name deleted) WAS DRIVING A BORROWED MOTORCYCLE WELL ABOVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, STRUCK A CURB, AND WAS EJECTED. MSGT DONALD (name deleted)'S MOTORCYCLE WAS HIT BY A CAR MERGING INTO HIS LANE, CAUSING HIM TO IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE.

3. MOTORCYCLISTS OFTEN CRY "FOUL" WHEN THE FINGER OF BLAME IS POINTED AT THEM. THEY POINT TO FOUR-WHEEL VEHICLE OPERATORS WHO SHOW LITTLE RESPECT BY SEEMINGLY IGNORING THEIR PRESENCE ON ROADWAYS. HOWEVER, 8 OF THE 11 USAF FATALITIES WERE SINGLE VEHICLE MISHAPS, MEANING THE CONDITIONS AND/OR MOTORCYCLIST WAS AT FAULT.

4. RIDING MOTORCYCLES IS A HIGH RISK GAMBLE. INSURANCE RATES SUPPORT THIS. EVEN THOUGH MOTORCYCLISTS MAKE UP ONLY ABOUT 3% OF HIGHWAY VEHICLES, THEY ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 10% OF THE FATALITIES! HIGH-POWERED "SPORT" CYCLES ARE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS; WHO REALLY NEEDS A VEHICLE THAT WILL DO 150 MPH?

5. I CHARGE EACH AMC COMMANDER AND SUPERVISOR TO IDENTIFY THEIR PERSONNEL WHO RIDE MOTORCYCLES, THEN SIT DOWN WITH THEM TO ENSURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE ASSOCIATED HIGH RISKS. ASK THEM THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FROM ME:
- "HAVE YOU APPLIED OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT TO ONE OF THE DEADLIEST THREATS YOU FACE?"
- "CAN YOU OBTAIN ALTERNATIVE, SAFER TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER?"
- "HAVE YOU COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY RIDER CLASS?"
- "DO YOU OWN AND USE PROPER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT?"
- "DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE EVEN MORE VULNERABLE WHEN YOU'RE INTOXICATED, TIRED, STRESSED, OR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT?"

6. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT RIDING MOTORCYCLES POSES A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER RISK TO INDIVIDUAL SURVIVAL THAN DRIVING AN AUTOMOBILE. WE DISCOURAGE THE USE OF TOBACCO, BECAUSE OF THE DOCUMENTED RISK. LET'S NOW DO THE SAME FOR MOTORCYCLES IN THIS SPECIAL WAY. AT LEAST IF OUR PEOPLE RIDE THEM WE WILL HAVE INSURED THEY DO IT RESPONSIBLY.

7. FOR YOUR PERSONNEL WHO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT THIS UNNECESSARY RISK, YOU MUST URGE THEM TO THINK OF OTHERS--EACH TIME THEY CLIMB ON A MOTORCYCLE. THEY SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES WHAT SORROW, LOSS, AND EXTRA WORK THEIR PREMATURE DEATH MIGHT HAVE ON THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CO-WORKERS. LET'S SAVE SOME LIVES WITH OUR INTEREST.

   _{GENERAL WALTER KROSS}

GENERAL WALTER KROSS, COMMANDER.
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Mike STenger HSTA #5811 STOC #372 SOHC4 #316 AMA HRCA
Honda Sport Touring Assn. Nebraska/Dakotas Area Director
Omaha, Nebraska     mailto: mstenger@top.net
'93 ST1100 '75 CB400F '73 CB350F '72 CL350 http://www.ridehsta.com

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