Naval Station Mayport Holds Motorcycle Safety Symposium

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Salt Cebe, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Southeast

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Station Mayport held a motorcycle safety symposium to discuss how the motorcycle safety program is helpful to military personnel and how it could be improved March 27.

Service members offered their personal riding experiences, discussed what they had learned since taking the motorcycle safety courses and reiterated how the courses had helped them stay safe while riding their motorcycles on and off naval installations.

"We need to get the message out and unfortunately a lot of times we see individuals who say they can get by without personal protective equipment," said Commander, Naval Safety Center Rear Adm. Brian Prindle.

Several Sailors spoke about their own personal moments of clarity, when they realized just how important motorcycle safety really was.

"I've been riding for some time now. I can honestly say that if it wasn't for the training I received through the motorcycle safety center I probably wouldn't be here," said Electronic's Technician 1st Class John Broughton.

Broughton continued to speak about the importance of what he learned during the Basic Riders Course (BRC).

"For me it started five years ago during my BRC. In that class they tell you if you lay down your bike, you panic. I didn't know what I would do if that happened. A truck that wasn't paying much attention sped right through one of the many four-way intersections and didn't even look in my direction," explained Broughton. "At that moment, as the truck came at me, I remembered that phrase. It actually saved me. I was able to lean as hard as I could and cut around the truck. It saved my life."

Prindle said that motorcycle safety training has become more intensive and therefore has also become more successful in helping to prevent mishaps. The overall goal is to make sure all military personnel who ride motorcycles are as prepared as possible when they hit the road.

"What we want to do is tell our Sailors and Marines that we're going to support them and their right to ride a motorcycle," stated Prindle. "We want to give them the proper training so that they're prepared, safe and successful if and when they do decide to ride a motorcycle.