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RIDER EDUCATION/SAFETY
To have all members commit to Rider Education Level 1 as soon as possible. This is a commitment by each to agree to ride safely at all times. So, this goal should be attainable by the chapter. SAFETY BY COMMITMENT
By the end of 2008, to achieve the goal of having a minimum of each member at Rider Education Level 2 or even Level 3 depending on what requirements each have attained. Level 2 is SAFETY BY EDUCATION which requires an approved Rider Course and or Co-rider Seminar within the last 3 years and at least 5000 Safe Miles (no reportable accidents). Level 3 is SAFETY BY PREPAREDNESS which requires the addition of current CPR or First Aid courses and the carrying of a first aid kit on bike. To obtain the higher level, you must be current in the preceding levels.
Riders, remember that your co-riders are a very important integral part of motorcycling. Dates for approved Rider and Experienced Rider courses will be announced as they become available.
Refresh our riding skills by Parking Lot Practices. This will be for all types of bikes (regular two wheelers, trikes, any bikes with sidecars and/or trailers). We plan on making this a day of fun with refreshments, games and socializing.
Our mileage program contest of individuals who have ridden the most miles during the year will again be in effect with the two categories of Working Class and Retirees. This has been a lot of fun over the past couple of years and gets very competitive between members. At this time the contest runs from March to March of each year. So keep adding the miles over the next few months.
On our chapter rides we will be incorporating the use of our Road Captains, breaking up into groups depending on number of bikes on the ride. This will include a 5 minute pre-ride talk discussing the aspects of the ride before departure. We did not do this consistently during the past year, but when it was initiated, everyone enjoyed the ride more.
Larry Hensley will be taking on a larger role in Rider Education, since he is now part of Chapter V's staff as Co-Chapter Educator. He is an important asset for us and I encourage everyone to give him your support.
Roger & Marie Crowe
CE's TN-V
EMERGENCY
In an emergency situation, you may not be able to speak and give vital information concerning your health. Medical providers must sometimes treat accident victims without having any basic medical information about the individual or any way to contact someone who could provide crucial information.
A medical information card would prove to be invaluable in providing treatment by attending medical providers and/or personnel. A medical identification bracelet, pendant or wallet card would be useful to alert emergency medical personnel of any problems.
Basic information required in case of an emergency should include the following:
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Personal Information - name, address, birth date, phone numbers & blood type
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Physicians Information - name & phone number
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Emergency Contacts - relationships, names & phone numbers
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Medical Information - any conditions, diseases, medications(name, dosage & frequency), allergies, items allergic to
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Insurance - health & vehicle
Now what about an electronic feature that would be very beneficial --- Your Cell Phone --- ICE.
ICE stands for In Case of Emergency
Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for help to a person's identity. So why not make their job easier by adding an entry in the contact list under ICE with the name and phone number of the person that should be contacted on your behalf. This will save the medical personnel a lot of time and your loved ones will be contacted quickly.
However, the ICE scenario is not without difficulties. Someone besides an emergency responder could use this from a lost or stolen cell phone. Also, many people use password protection on their phones and the cell phone could be damaged during the incident. That is why you should keep a copy of emergency information on your person and in all vehicles. As a side note, vehicle information(make, model, year, etc) can be of help. Copies of this information are usually kept in a person's wallet, the right fairing side pocket of motorcycles and in the glove compartment of cars.
Still, emergency responders agree that since inputting ICE is free and easy, it is worth the effort.
The emergency medical responders know what ICE means and they will look for it immediately.
ICE your phone NOW!
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SIPDE
Riders are to be aware of what is going on around them at all times. A way to improve your riding is this 5-step process to help improve making appropriate judgments and applying them correctly for different situations.
Scan Identify Predict Decide Execute
SCAN
Search ahead, at sides and behind to avoid potential hazards before they arise. These hazards could be oncoming traffic turning left in front of you, traffic approaching from left, right or behind and hazardous road conditions.
Focus on finding potential escape routes around intersections, shopping areas, schools and construction zones.
Be alert in areas of limited visibility. Visually 'busy' areas can hide you from others.
IDENTIFY
Locate possible hazards:
- any vehicle that may move into your path and possibly cause an accident
- pedestrians & animals which are usually unpredictable & make short, quick moves
- stationary objects (signs, holes, trees, bridges, parked vehicles) that can change riding
PREDICT
Anticipate how the hazard may affect you. Predict where a collision may occur. Completing "What if ...?" phrase depends on individual's knowledge and experience in estimating the results of contacting or avoiding the hazard.
DECIDE
Determine what you need to do based on your predication. Your course of action depends on your previous searching. You want to eliminate or reduce the potential hazard. Decide when, how and where to take action. Your continual decision making tasks must stay sharp to deal with constantly changing traffic conditions.
EXECUTE
Carry out your decision. To minimize harm from any hazard, communicate your presence with lights and/or horn while adjustingyour speed and position and/or direction.
Apply the old adage 'one step at a time' to handle two or more hazards. Adjust speed to permit two hazards to separate and then deal with them individually as single hazards. Decision making becomes more complex with three or more hazards. Weigh the consequences of each and give consideration to them individually, if possible. In potential high risk areas, cover the clutch and both brakes to reduce the time you need to react.
Keep alert, be friendly and enjoy riding the roads.
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GROUP RIDING
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A few general rules to follow:
* Riding in groups of many motorcycles can be confusing for both the group and other traffic. If there are too many people, break up into smaller groups. Group size should not consist of over 7 bikes unless involved in a parade type event. When there is the need to split up into smaller groups they are to be separated by at least 5 minutes of each other on the road. Use common sense to allow for traffic to flow in a normal fashion.
* Ride in a staggered formation. The first bike will be on the left side of the lane, the second bike on the right side and so on. Not side by side. This formation to be maintained unless conditions, (such as narrow roads, numerous curves, no shoulders or pull-offs, etc and/or any other conditions that is deemed unsafe for formation riding), warrant otherwise.
* Keep a two-second interval (minimum) from the motorcycle that is in front of you. If riding behind a trike, an increase interval (3-4 seconds) should be established, since a trike can stop quicker than a regular two-wheel motorcycle. You do not want to end up in the trike's trunk compartment.
* At traffic lights and stop signs wait in pairs.
* When passing other vehicles, do individually and safely. Not in groups or pairs. The group leader (front door) and the Shotgun/Tail-gunner rider (Back Door) are to work together when vehicle passing, lane changes, turns & etc are required. No bike should pull out of existing formation until instructed by group leader, unless a circumstance un-expectedly occurs that must be avoided to prevent an accident. |
GROUP LEADER & BACK DOOR RIDER RESPONSIBILITIES
 An experienced rider should be at each position and both equipped with CB radios for communication.
The Group Leader has the responsibility that all members of the formation know the destination and route to be taken. If the group becomes separated, a regrouping point is to be determined as quickly as possible by the Group Leader.
Lane changes are to be accomplished by the Group Leader instructing the Back Door Rider to appropriate the new lane when available. Once the lane is clear up to the Group Leader, the Back Door will inform the Leader that the lane is secure. The Leader will then use his turn signal, make a head check, look in mirror and change lanes. Each following bike is to use same procedure.
The Back Door Rider has the responsibility to keep the Group Leader informed as to the formation’s status in all situations. Also, he should attempt to keep the formation alert to any impending danger such as rapidly approaching vehicles, semis, reckless drivers and so forth.
MASTER TOUR RIDER
Requirements to get someone into the Masters program is not hard but if the following things are not completed the application will be rejected and things slowed up and when someone has desire to move up in the Riders Education program they want things to proceed smoothly.
The member must:
Be current at Level III at the time the application is sent (in other words they must have renewed their Level III for 2006 and have it show up on the latest RE Area Report)
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Have been current at Level III for a minimum of one year prior to the application.(Must show on the latest RE Area Report)
Be current on their riding courses (or Co-Rider Course), First Aid, CPR, etc.
Have a minimum of 25.000 Safe Miles ON the latest RE Area Report
Meet all other requirements as listed on the Form N-9.
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