SAFETY TIPS
MOTOR OFFICERS summer , I went on a
THIS memorial ride for a fallen Police Officer from Pea Ridge , Arkansas . There were over 200 bikes on the ride . The ride was escorted by motor officers from Benton County Sheriff ’ s Office and the cities of Bella Vista , Lowell , and Siloam Springs , all from Northwest Arkansas . I was impressed by the riding skill of the officers and also by how well they worked together as a unit to keep the riders safe . This was a difficult task considering these officers all work for different departments . It has been nearly thirty years since I went to motor officer training , so I wanted to talk to those officers and see how they were trained and how they continue to train .
I met Captain Andy Lee of the Benton County Sheriff ’ s Office . Captain Lee has been riding bikes most of his life , mainly on sport bikes . Captain Lee had not had any formal training until he was in the U . S . Marines in 1992 . The Marines required their members to have motorcycle training to ride on base . He left the Marines and became a police officer in 1996 . He joined the Benton County Sheriff ’ s Office in 2012 where he continues to serve today . Captain Lee soon joined the Sheriff ’ s motorcycle unit . He is a motor officer instructor and the training coordinator for the motor units from several agencies in Northwest Arkansas .
Captain Lee said motor officer candidates must complete a basic motor school lasting 85 hours over two weeks . Some students have experience riding while many have no experience , but they all train the same .
Students have several hours of classroom study covering topics like rules of the road , safety gear , and riding theory . They ride eight hours a day for two weeks on a training pad and on the road . They ride bikes provided by their departments . Students are taught the same skills , regardless of what bike they ride .
Captain Lee said the basic skills taught for motor officers are the same skills street riders need to use . The main focus of police training is balance and stability . Students must learn clutch and throttle control to be able to ride in the friction zone . Using the rear brake keeps the bike upright helping with stability . Turning your head to look where you want to go is extremely important on a bike . These skills are practiced at slow speeds . Most crashes happen at about 20 MPH . The same skills used at slow speed transfer to higher speeds . Anyone can go fast down the road , but few riders have the skill to turn a big bike around in an 18 foot circle . Officers who graduate to the motor unit must train constantly . They train with an instructor eight hours every month . They must pass a requalification once every year to stay in the unit .
A hard skill to learn is leaning the bike in tight turns . Riders lean the bike to one side , then counter weight by leaning their hips or upper body to the other side for balance . This takes practice for police and civilian riders . Large street bikes , like Gold Wings and Harley Ultras , can turn in 18-foot circles if the rider learns to lean the bike .
There is an off-pavement section for the students . Students are taken to a safe area then drive off the pavement . This teaches students how to react if they ride off the pavement at any time . Students are taught to go up and down and sideways on hills . Students can practice starting , stopping , and turning on hills and slick surfaces .
Civilian riders , like CMA members , should also practice this skill . Civilians ride off the pavement in curves and sometimes on straight roads causing many crashes when the rider does not know how to respond . CMA ’ ers may ride off-pavement at rallies and other bike events . All riders should practice riding off-pavement in a controlled learning environment so when it does happen , they will know what it feels like and how to respond . Riders should practice riding in sand , gravel , wet ground , grass , or any type of surface they may encounter while riding .
Captain Lee said many crashes happen because the rider is riding beyond their limits . Some riders are just not paying attention . Other riders panic or do not have the skill to safely respond to any situation . The best way to prevent crashes is to train . Take training anywhere , and at any time you can get it . Take training seriously . Training saves lives , reduces injuries , and saves money on repairs . Police motor officers are some of the best riders in the country . They stay safe and keep their skills sharp by training , wearing the proper safety gear , and always evaluating the situation for potential hazards . Officers constantly ask , “ Can this be done safely ?” and if not , don ’ t do it or find another way . CMA
Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas .
25⎪November 2021⎪www . cmausa . org