Click here for more photos

Automobile and motorcycle collisions account for more soldier fatalities than any other category of non-combat related accidents in the U. S. Army. However, the good news is that in fiscal year 2009, the Army recorded the lowest number of privately-owned vehicle fatalities in seven years – a trend safety and Army officials are diligently working to extend through an array of awareness initiatives and training programs.

One such program is the Army Traffic Safety Training Program, or ATSTP, which began in September 2007. This program provides courses for motorcycle riders at 52 installations worldwide. This program standardized the Army’s rider safety training through a series of instructor-led classes and an online course. It includes a mandatory basic and an optional experienced rider motorcycle course that combines classroom instruction with motorcycle riding. The motorcycle courses include basic, experienced, refresher, and a special class designed for sport bike riders.

Soldiers’ attitudes about motorcycles have changed because of these programs. For example, soldiers are now required to enroll in and complete a motorcycle safety course, to execute a contract with their commanders affirming they will comply with training and requirements on and off post, and to carry a card as proof of course completion at all times while operating a motorcycle.

One of the ATSTP initiatives provides some bases with video game-like motorcycle simulators which replicate realistic road conditions and test a rider’s skills. More than 61,000 motorcycle riders have taken part in this training in the program’s first two years in action. “This is helpful training for riders of all levels to practice their skills, and it helps them become aware of basic safety techniques that will help save their lives and the lives of others on the road,” says Rodolfo “Rudy” Pino, deputy safety director at Fort Bliss in Texas. Fort Bliss received the simulators in 2008.

Command Sergeant Major Arthur L. Coleman, Jr. of Fort Hood, Texas and III Corps, told us that the military is also organizing large motorcycle rides, “We show them what ‘right’ looks like by conducting motorcycle rides that bring together more than 1,000 motorcycle riders.” He continues, “The idea is that by bringing our motorcycle riders together, we can mentor our less experienced riders, promote safe riding habits and have some fun at the same time. I also think the soldiers recognize the efforts being made to increase awareness and are being more responsible.”

Frank Rangel, our inventory manager, Sarah Quinones, our MotorClothes billing manager, Jesus Ramirez, our MotorClothes Assistant Manager, Raul Suarez from the detail shop, and I went out to Ft. Bliss, the base located in El Paso, Texas. We were invited as a vendor at the Ft. Bliss Motorcycle Safety Rally. This rally, conducted twice each year, had more than 500 soldiers participating with their motorcycles. The morning started out chilly, and Sarah and Jesus were busy with soldiers getting items to help them stay warm during the group ride over the mountains. Raul and I discussed the motorcycles we had on display with the soldiers and invited them to come to the store to take a test ride. Frank helped all of us and took advantage of the opportunity to get some photos of what was happening.

A week before the rally I had the opportunity to meet with Ernie Bautista, Director of Motorcycle Safety Training at Ft. Bliss. One of the things we discussed was the motorcycle simulator training they conduct there. He even invited us to ride the simulators if we had an opportunity while at the rally. That was an offer we just couldn’t refuse. So when the soldiers left on their ride, Sarah, Frank, Raul, and I wasted no time getting to the simulators.

After the orientation, Sarah rode first. It was apparent from the beginning that this was going to be no ordinary ride. Although there were large screens in front of her, this was more than just a video game of motorcycle riding. The sounds and video were very real and life-like, and the only difference between this and a real bike is that you couldn’t physically lean as far on the turns because there is no centrifugal force. Her first instructions were to start the engine and accelerate gradually to 15 miles per hour. She was to maintain that speed and stop on a designated line across the road. On her first attempt she was a couple of feet short. This simulator is exact and unforgiving, so she was told she stopped too soon, and the simulator immediately started over from the beginning. Sarah’s a trooper, though, because she passed by getting it right the next three times. The standard for that particular program is to get it right three out of five tries. When asked about it, she said, “It’s frustrating. There’s just no room for error.”

Frank was next, and it was obvious he learned by watching Sarah. He progressed quickly and rode some winding roads going through higher elevations. It began to rain, and then the rain turned to snow. The roads had been cleared in places and there were patches of ice. It was approaching evening and getting darker. This would be a tough ride for anyone, and he was up to the challenge. When I asked him about it afterward he said, “It was awesome! What made it more difficult was that you can’t make any mistakes. It doesn’t allow you to make an error and recover. If you make a mistake, you crash, and it shuts down and restarts right away.”

Raul is a sport bike aficionado, and he couldn’t wait for his turn. Even though he had the advantage of learning from everyone else, he still had to work to get it right. The counter-steering lessons were the best according to him, and he says he actually notices that his riding ability has improved. He echoed everyone else when he said, “Even the slightest mistake will cause you to crash. Then you just have to get up and do it again.”

Having watched all three of them, I was eager to ride this thing and meet the challenges it would present. But the hundreds of soldiers on the group ride were returning and it was time to get back to the booth.

Looking back on the experience, it was more than we expected. We anticipated it being a video game type machine with handlebars like a joystick and an arcade-like screen. It was quite the opposite, though. The feel was real. The graphics were very real. The scenarios a rider can experience on this simulator appear to be endless. Our riders rode through parking lots with cars parking and backing out. They rode twisties with traffic approaching at different speeds. They had wildlife running into the road, and at times the wind drove both Sarah and Frank nuts. If you can imagine a condition or emergency that may happen to you on the highway, there is a high probability that you will experience it on the simulator.

As we left, Ernie extended an invitation for us to come back and ride again. We’ll be there. After all, this is an offer we just can’t refuse.