Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Legislation Focus Groups

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U.S. Department of Defense Engages Motorcycle Safety Foundation to Conduct Focus Groups
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IRVINE, Calif.--As the popularity of motorcycling and motorcycle registrations continues to rise among
military service personnel, so does the number of fatal motorcycle crashes. That is why the Department
of Defense (DoD) continues to seek out aggressive countermeasures in the campaign against
two-wheel Private Motor Vehicle (PMV) mishaps among military personnel, and military sport bike riders
in particular.


To that end, the DoD has engaged the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) to conduct four focus groups
for the Defense Safety Oversight Council (DSOC) PMV Task Force. The focus groups will take place at
different locations across the United States in close proximity to military installations. The participants will
represent the dominant motorcycling culture in the military that is statistically at highest risk, primarily sport
bike riders. Officers and commissioned personnel will be sampled separately to ensure that command
structure perspectives are also considered. The initiative is being implemented through the National
Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE), operated by Concurrent Technologies Corporation
(CTC).

“This initiative falls in line with the PMV Task Force’s strategic plan for the overall reduction of PMV mishaps
across the Department of Defense,” said Major General Fred Roggero, DSOC PMV Task Force Chair. “These
focus groups have the potential to identify core issues, target initiatives and ultimately save lives.”

In 2008, a small focus group was conducted by Al Hydeman, MSF’s director, research, design and development,
with service members who were sport bike riders.

“That focus group was successful in identifying the habits, behaviors and attitudes inherent to this population,”
said MG Roggero.

The projected team for the new series of focus groups will be led by Hydeman, and will include MSF’s Director,
Quality Assurance and Research, Dr. Sherry Williams and Quality Assurance Specialist, David Crouch. Building
on the results from the 2008 effort, the MSF team will plan, coordinate and conduct the four focus groups in
order to identify attitudes toward motorcycling and motorcycling peers, effectiveness of current
countermeasures, barriers to change, and other relevant feedback.

“We’re honored to be part of the Department of Defense’s ongoing efforts to make motorcycle riding safer
for military service personnel,” said Hydeman. “Conducting focus groups is an effective way to get past the
stereotypes and focus on core issues and solutions.”

The project’s expected outcome is to provide guidance to the DoD in identifying the most effective means
of reducing military motorcyclist fatalities and mishaps for all branches of the service – through technology,
education, enforcement, and other areas as illuminated by focus group participants.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation promotes rider safety through rider training systems, operator licensing
tests and public information programs. The MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the
military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible
motorcycling. Standards established by the MSF have been internationally recognized since 1973.

The MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, BRP, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki,
KTM,Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory, and Yamaha. For RiderCourseSM locations, call (800) 446-9227
or visit www.msf-usa.org.

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Is a military son more valuable than a civilian son? If it is that valuable a program it should NOT be just military should it? The larger, better equipped organization should be used so all benefit.

IMHO

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I don't believe there is one bit of data that would show military crashes more or less than civilian crashes.

This is a NHTSA thing and that organization is already huge and in place to handle this "focus group". We need to spend not one dime on it. We already have a federal organization in place. Task NHTSA with it.

Is a military son more valuable than a civilian son? If it is that valuable a program it should NOT be just military should it? The larger, better equipped organization should be used so all benefit.

IMHO

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Hopefully I can better explain this for you gents so you have a better understanding of what's going on. I'm career Navy so I can't speak for the Army or Air Force, merely what I'm seeing for the Navy and Marine Corps. Our side of the house has taken a VERY SERIOUS look this starting about 5 or so years ago. Kids are kids and inexperienced riders are simply inexperienced. Now you throw on top of that someone that just came into the military and was nearly immediately shipped overseas for a year to march through the sands. They come back with not only a ton of cash but also pent up energy and feeling of being invincible. They buy the fastest bike they can find (never riden before mind you) and end up being shovelled off the pavement by the time the first weekend is over. That's what really started all this. The military has always has regulations on what to wear and such (and I'll get to that shortly), but this is what really kicked it into high gear.

Regarding gear, we have changed some over the years, but currently it's not all that bad; we pretty much fall in lines with the MSF: approved DOT helmet w/ eye protection, long sleeves, gloves, pants and hard-sole shoes that protect the ankles. Yeah, by law we're supposed to wear something reflective if riding at night but no big deal.

We are required to take the Basic MSF course before we EVER ride a bike. We have to take the Experienced MSF course every 3 years after that. And, if you ride a sport bike one must take that course also; although I'm unsure if it's a one time deal or repeatative. The Basic is common sense...ensuring our warriors simply know how to ride instead of trying to figure it out when it's too late. The retaking of the Experienced course makes sure those basic skills remain fresh. A lot of people won't ride for years then climb back on; they can be just as dangerous. It brings back sound skills and really gets you comfortable with your own bike.

For the focus groups, anyone who knows me knows that I am not a touchy feely kind of b--ch. But, I think there can be some success in this. At least in the Navy/Marine Corps we have programs set up where the more experienced riders mentor and coach newer riders. It's not a big deal; we do it here in the forums all the time. With the focus groups, simply, you cannot fix the problem if you don't know exactly the problem is. And that's what they're trying to get at. We, the military, are doing so much to try to prevent all these motorcycle related deaths and still losing the battle. I find there's nothing wrong with asking for help to try and find a better solution. I fully understand that up front it seems touchy feely BS that's a huge waste of time and money. But if it saves one Commanding Officer from having to stand in front of momma and tell her that her son that just came back from a very successful tour of duty in Iraq 4 days ago is now dead because he slammed his crotch rocket into the back of a truck, then it was a success.

Merely my two cents.

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sir, you must have been a chief before you went mustang?