Oct 31 2008
Motorcycles Kill More Marines than Hostile Fire in Iraq
An alarming number of Marines are dying in motorcycle deaths. The trend has become of great concern to the Corps commanders. Now the top brass is looking into the reasons behind the problem.
Twenty-five Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since last November — all but one of them involving sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph, according to Marine officials. In that same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq.
The 25 deaths are the highest motorcycle death toll ever for the Marine Corps.
Gen. James Amos, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told CNN that commanders are trying to drill down on what “we need to do to help our Marines survive on these sport bikes.” (Source: CNN)
Is it the choice of bikes that is causing this alarming increase? Or is it the need for adrenalin rushing speed that makes these veterans turn to motorcycles for their fix?
After World War II thousands of veterans returned home and sought out Harley Davidsons and Indians to ride. The freedom of the road and the rush of speed lured many into the biker lifestyle. Many of the oldest motorcycle clubs in this country were formed by returning veterans. Lets just hope this new generation of biker/veterans survive the transitions from active duty to road warriors.
Meanwhile the Marines are requiring that its members who ride attend safety courses. This is a good idea. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has been offering courses in safe handling and riding practices for a long time. No matter how new or how long a person has been riding they come away from these courses with life saving techniques for survival on the road.
Military officials say they’re not sure why the deaths are on the rise. They initially believed the accidents might involve mostly young Marines and sailors around 18 or 19 years old. But Navy statistics show that five of the victims were 25, the most prevalent of any age involved in the crashes. And two 40-year-old sailors were killed in motorcycle crashes.
Gen. Amos said the Marines have seen a similar trend.
But he says the new training seems to be working: Of the 300 young men and women who have gone through the sport-bike course, only three have had accidents.
The safety course instructors said some Marines who go through the training decide the sport bike is not for them. (Source: CNN)
The fatalities aren’t confined to just the Marines either. The trend is up in the Navy also. Lets hope that the measures taken by the military brass will save some lives.
The lifestyle causes the accidents. I bet if you look, they were working long hours, minimal days off and had probably been drinking.
Maybe more training is needed. The military already requires a safety course to get a DOD decal.
I agree. I firmly believe in MSF training. I’ve been on two wheels over 40 years and I still take the advanced riders course every couple years. I learn something new every time.
But that said I also believe that a lot of the problem comes from the stress these young Marines face when they come home. They are used to riding hell bent for leather through combat zones and it is not easy to adjust to civilian driving. I remember when I got home from southeast asia I too rode too fast. I feel these casualties are a product of the environment they are returning from.