R 231845Z APR 08
ALMAR 014/08
FM MOZART
BT
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTORCYCLE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD/11APR2007//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD/29DEC2000//
AMPN/REF A IS CMC WHITE LETTER 01-07, MARINE CORPS MANDATORY SEAT
BELT POLICY.  REF B IS MCO 5100.19E, MARINE CORPS TRAFFIC SAFETY
PROGRAM (DRIVESAFE)//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  MARINES, 24 OF YOUR FELLOW MARINES HAVE DIED IN
14 PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE AND 8 MOTORCYCLE MISHAPS SINCE 1 OCTOBER
2007.  THESE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
2.  PROPER SEAT BELT USAGE DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE CHANCE OF INJURY
DURING MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS.  THROUGH MARINE CORPS ORDER AND A
LETTER TO ALL COMMANDERS, I HAVE OUTLINED MY VIEWS ON THE USE OF
SEATBELTS FOR ALL MARINES AND THE COMMANDER'S TOOLS AVAILABLE TO
HOLD MARINES ACCOUNTABLE (SEE REFS A AND B).  IN SHORT, FAILURE OF A
MARINE TO WEAR A SEAT BELT WHILE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE IS PUNISHABLE
UNDER THE UCMJ AND MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED MISCONDUCT DURING LINE OF
DUTY DETERMINATIONS.
3.  MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES CONTINUE TO RISE AT AN ALARMING RATE.  IN
FY07, WE LOST 19 MARINES IN MOTORCYCLE MISHAPS - MORE THAN AT ANY
PREVIOUS TIME IN OUR HISTORY.  RECENT TRENDS INDICATE A CULTURE OF
NONCOMPLIANCE AMONG YOUNGER RIDERS, IN PARTICULAR SPORT-BIKE RIDERS.
 THESE TRENDS FALL SHORT OF THE PROFESSIONALISM I EXPECT FROM ALL
MARINES.  IN RESPONSE, THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ARE DIRECTED.
A.  MOTORCYCLE OWNERSHIP IS A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY.  PRIOR TO
PURCHASING A MOTORCYCLE, ALL MARINES WILL CONSULT WITH THEIR
LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCE TO BE CERTAIN THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH OWNERSHIP.  THESE RESPONSIBILITIES
INCLUDE PROPER REGISTRATION, TRAINING, AND MANDATORY WEAR OF
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). 
B.  ALL MARINES WHO PRESENTLY OWN OR PURCHASE A MOTORCYCLE, WHETHER
OR NOT THEY INTEND TO RIDE ON BASE, WILL PERSONALLY REPORT THEIR
OWNERSHIP TO THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS/OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE WITHIN 48
HOURS.  THE FAILURE OF A MARINE TO REPORT OWNERSHIP IS PUNISHABLE
UNDER THE UCMJ.  FURTHER, THESE MARINES WILL APPROPRIATELY REGISTER
THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE ON THE INSTALLATION.
C.  WHEN OWNERSHIP OR PURCHASE OF A MOTORCYCLE IS REPORTED,
COMMANDERS SHALL VERIFY WITH THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE THAT THE
MARINE HOLDS A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH A MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENT
AND THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETED OR ARE SCHEDULED TO ATTEND THE
MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION BASIC RIDERS COURSE (BRC) AT THE
EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT THE MARINE KNOWS WHAT PPE IS REQUIRED
WHILE RIDING.  ON INSTALLATIONS WHERE THE BRC PROVIDES A MARINE WITH
THE MOTORCYCLE FOR USE IN THE COURSE, LEADERS SHALL ENCOURAGE THE
MARINE TO COMPLETE THE BRC PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE.
D.  FAILURE OF A MARINE TO WEAR REQUIRED PPE WHILE RIDING A
MOTORCYCLE IS PUNISHABLE UNDER THE UCMJ AND MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED
MISCONDUCT DURING LINE OF DUTY DETERMINATIONS.
4.  SAFETY PROGRAMS DO NOT REPLACE LEADERSHIP; BUT PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO OUR COMMANDERS.  THESE ACTIONS PROVIDE OUR
MOTORCYCLE RIDERS THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO AVOID OR
SURVIVE A MOTORCYCLE MISHAP.  LEADERS WILL ENSURE STRICT ADHERENCE
TO THIS ALMAR AND APPLICABLE ORDERS AND SET THE FOUNDATION OF SAFE
PRACTICES TO PRESERVE OUR MARINES AND SAILORS AND THE EQUIPMENT THEY
OPERATE.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//