It's a statistically proven fact---Rider Education Saves Lives, and, as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) says, "The More You Know, The Better It Gets!" Ninety percent of all motorcycle accidents involve riders with no formal education on a motorcycle! So many say, "It's okay, my friend is a good rider and showed me how to ride!" Did your friend also include in his teaching a mental defensive driving strategy? Riding a motorcycle is 90 percent mental! We rely on physical driving skills to get us out of harm's way when our mental strategy fails.

Then there are those physical skills. Did your friend teach you the three primary skills found lacking in motorcyclists having accidents? Do you even know what they are? The MSF picked up the ball and developed programs to teach these physical skills, and combined this with a very effective driving strategy. Since this occurred, and where the program has been taught, the numbers of motorcycles having accidents dropped!

Any time you can learn, learn! Any improvement is a better chance to get where you intend to go. Any help we can give improves the quality of your riding, your comfort, your Co-Rider's level of enjoyment and the comfort of those you ride with. So, why do so many choose to take a much higher risk in life? Why do so many resist the wealth of knowledge that is placed at their disposal? Is it pride? The American male's "I-already-know-every-thing syndrome"?

Isn't it time we forgot our foolish pride and see how much we really do know?

There are many MSF and GWRRA courses available. And I think you would be surprised at how much you can really learn, no matter how long you have ridden. If nothing else think of your Co-Rider and their safety. Anything that can be done to improve the Co-Rider's comfort and safety should be done. After all, we are the ones in control of the motorcycle, and they are putting a lot of trust in our abilities.

If you only learned one thing, and that one thing could save a life, (whether it is your own, your Co-Rider's, or another persons), wouldn't it be worth it?

And Co-Rider's! Do you really know what you should be doing back there? That is besides enjoying the scenery, reading a book, taking a nap, or thumping the rider once in a while to see if he is awake? A Co-Rider seminar can give you insight into what should be done, and how you can help the rider,and how to make riding more enjoyable and confortable for you both. With the changes that have been made in Level attainment, it is easy for everyone to become involved and become at least Level I.

Level I, is "Safety by Commitment". Just by signing up and commiting to be a safe rider you can become a Level I. (Level I is the most important part of the REP structure).

Level II, is "Safety by Education". With a MSF course, (Co-Rider seminar for Co-Rider's) and 5,000 accident free miles, you can become Level II.

Level III, is "Safety by Prepardness". You must be enrolled in Level I and current in Level II, have a current CPR or First Aid card, and rider must carry a first aid kit on the motorcycle.

Level IV, is "Safety by Enhanced Prepardness and Experience". Maintain current Level I, II, and III. Maintain Level III for a minimum of 1 year and ridden 25,000 safe miles, current in both CPR and First Aid certifications and have completed a MSF course within one year.

Let's make this a 100% chapter in Rider Education participation, and have a safe and enjoyable riding season. After all, we are "Friends for Fun, Safety, and Knowledge".

Jim Smith
Asst Chapter Rider Educator

For information on having a similar page created for your GWRRA chapter, or for comments about this page, contact Webmaster