Risk Management Magazine

I began riding motorcycles at the age of 12. That was 28 years and 15 motorcycles ago. I have always considered myself an experienced and safe rider because of the time I’ve invested in motorcycles. That remained my attitude until my last Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) training course, where I learned I wasn’t as skilled as I previously thought.

I could feel my SUV pulling to the right as the road noise grew louder. Because my vehicle was less than a year old, my supervisor gave it only a quick inspection before I took off. That’s not to say we pencil-whipped it, but we definitely didn’t look all that hard for problems.

As a young Soldier, I was not someone you would naturally point to as the next accident waiting to happen. I did what I was supposed to do and stayed out of trouble. I wasn’t a rebel. I also think I used common sense, even as a teenager, so I wasn’t prone to spontaneity and recklessness. This mindset suited me well as a young motorcyclist. I planned ahead, wore the proper clothing and protective equipment and preferred cruising over racing.