A Sergeant assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland, died in a PMV-2 mishap 27 July 2021 in Newark, Delaware, at 1700 local. The Soldier was operating his sport bike when he hit the side of a civilian SUV crossing the highway. Local authorities responded and the Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. The Soldier was reportedly wearing personal protective equipment. He reportedly had not completed the proper Military SportBike RiderCourse (MSRC). It is unknown at this time if speed or alcohol were factors. This mishap is still under investigation by the local police department.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 27 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This preventable mishap was the 19th PMV-2 fatality of FY21 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.


Here are some important safety tips to follow when negotiating a curve

Maintain a space cushion: A space cushion is a buffer around your vehicle that you maintain to allow room to maneuver, if necessary. Know what is in your space cushion, scan frequently and maintain awareness of other vehicles.

•Keep at least a three-second following distance in front of you – make it four or five seconds in inclement weather.
•Avoid distractions, including mobile phones and other devices, which can divert your attention, even with hands-free functionality.
•Aim high when looking out over the handlebars at the road.
•Keep your eyes moving, meaning don't just stare at the road ahead; make sure to check mirrors and other views frequently.
•Leave yourself an out; this means anticipating what would happen if you had to swerve or slam on the brakes.
•Position both hands firmly but comfortably on handlebars.
•Motorcycles have use of the complete traffic lane. Do not share lanes with motorcycles.
•Failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist is the most frequent driver error in collisions involving a motorcycle and another vehicle.
•Often drivers do not see motorcyclists until it is too late. This is why it is important for drivers to continually scan the roadway in front, to the rear and to the sides.
•Motorcycles accelerate, turn and stop more quickly than other vehicles. Bad weather, rough road surfaces or inexperience may cause a motorcyclist to fall. All of these are reasons why you should increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles.


Advanced Training: Required per AR 385-10

Advanced motorcycle training can teach you how to better control your motorcycle. Your control, handling and abilities on the bike will improve and you’ll learn to deal better with all kinds of weather, traffic and unexpected road conditions. You’ll be able to confidently handle dangerous driving situations, understand how to better maintain your motorcycle, and have a more smooth and safe ride.

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