Risk Management Magazine

Whether it’s a convoy operation or a trip with your family, it’s always a good idea to perform a map or route reconnaissance. You’ll have the advantage of locating rest stops, places to fill up or, just maybe, possible road hazards. I didn’t do that during a winter ride from my home in Colorado Springs to Woodland Park, Colorado, and it literally proved to be my downfall.

There is a dragon out there that has cost the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) two platoons worth of Soldiers over the past three years due to mishaps. This is an unsustainable loss to which we must find a solution.

Considering the circumstances, I count myself lucky. When compared to the statistics, surviving a motorcycle accident is no small feat. There’s a saying that riders know all too well: It’s not a matter of if you will fall, crash or drop your bike, but a matter of when. That night, my "when" arrived.