SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- As the popularity of sport bikes grows among Airmen, so does the number of injuries and fatalities, according to Air Mobility Command safety experts.

"Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of accidental death among Air Force personnel," said Mark Erpelding, AMC Traffic Safety Program manager.

And although motorcyclists represent a small fraction of Air Force vehicle operators, they experience a disproportionate number of fatalities as compared to passenger vehicle operators, added Mr. Erpelding.

He said the statistics for high-performance motorcycles are even higher.

"Fatalities and injuries amongst sport bike riders are 55 percent higher than any other category of Air Force motorcyclists," said Mr. Erpelding.

Tech. Sgt. Curtis Toler, Air Force Communications Agency Enterprise Systems Manager and AMC Sport Bike Safety Course instructor, explained why.
"Sport bikes are faster than cruisers," Sergeant Toler said. "They stop faster, go faster ... they're more aggressive."

With the AMC Critical Days of Summer campaign in full swing, safety officials want to ensure base motorcyclists - including those who ride sport bikes -- accomplish all required training. For those who ride sport bikes, additional training is required.

"All base motorcycle riders are required to take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course," said Mr. Erpelding. "But if they're an AMC sport bike rider on an AMC owned base, it is mandatory that they take the AMC sport bike safety course."

Safety officials said the loss of life from a preventable accident is both tragic and unacceptable.

"Aside from the human toll they exact, the losses also threaten combat readiness and, as such, our national security," Mr. Erpelding added.

According to the AMC Safety Office, the command has already lost one Airmen sport bike rider this summer.