A 33-year-old Sergeant assigned to the United States Army Reserve, Clackamas, Oregon, died in a PMV-2 mishap 3 June 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 1930 local. The Soldier was riding his sport bike when he lost control and struck a guardrail. Emergency medical services responded and transported the Soldier to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Soldier had a valid state license, was current on all Army-mandated motorcycle training and was wearing a certified motorcycle helmet at the time of the mishap. The safety point of contact is awaiting the local law enforcement report and toxicology results.
Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 22nd PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.
Safety tip
- Be attentive on the road; scan the road ahead, observing any hazards, and obey all guidelines without neglecting them.
- Know your bike, your skills and what you are comfortable to handle under certain conditions.
- Keep your eyes moving. Don't just stare at the road ahead; make sure to check mirrors and other views frequently.
- “Laying it down” is a common term among bike riders and refers to the fun-filled activity of bending your bike to one side, nearly touching the ground. With experience it gets easy, but don’t be careless or fooled to believe it’s all rosy.
- Two common mistakes around bends: Riders approach it at high speed and they lose control. They may also misjudge the curve. Negotiating a curve requires a combination of both physical and mental skills.
- Drive from a position you can see most of the curve to enable the necessary action.
- Be keen of your surroundings, blind spots and turn signals, and avoid situations where lane changing becomes impossible.
- Riding under the influence impairs your level of judgment.
- Never attempt stunts in public places where you risk your life and the lives of others.
- Racing tires vs. road tires: Each has pros and cons, but road tires generally perform better in wet conditions due to their tread patterns. Racing tires are susceptible to hydroplaning when in contact with water.
For more information on preventing off-duty PMV-2 mishaps, check out the Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation. The full presentation includes a section on PMV-2s, or you can view individual topics at
https://safety.army.mil/ODSAP.