Riders Get Cycle Safety Course

In an effort to thwart a troubling trend of deaths and injuries related to motorcycle riding, the Naval Safety Center has begun a training program that focuses on safety and describes in great detail just how powerful the popular high-performance vehicles have become. Of the roughly 25,000 sailors and Marines own or operate motorcycles, about half own lightweight, high-horsepower sport motorcycles, safety center statistics show. Of the 32 motorcycle-related fatalities among sailors and Marines in 2007, 30 involved sport bikes. A large percentage of those fatalities involved first-year riders. The daylong safety courses are now available in the Jacksonville, Fla., and San Diego areas, as well as Camp Lejeune, N.C. Safety officials intend to expand the program across the fleet. For more information, visit www.safetycenter.navy.mil/ashore/motorvehicle/motorcycle on the Web.