Risk Management Magazine

Despite increased messaging warning Soldiers of the dangers of riding a motorcycle, FY23 was the worst year in a decade for fatal PMV-2 (motorcycle) mishaps. The Army saw 38 Soldiers die in motorcycle mishaps in FY23 — well above the five-year average from FY18-22 of 24 fatalities a year. This is truly significant when it is estimated that only 12-15% of the Army population are motorcycle riders.

The adrenaline rushes through your body, making you feel invincible. The wind is in your face and the world at your feet. The seemingly unlimited power at your fingertips is intoxicating. These are the things I felt when I rode my first motorcycle at age 11. It never occurred to me how inherently dangerous it was as I tore up the hills behind my childhood home.

Living in northeastern Pennsylvania, where the deer population is abundant, I’ve had more than my fair share of run-ins with our four-legged friends while riding my motorcycle. Despite my previous encounters, it took a more serious accident before I truly learned to expect the unexpected.