| Effective
sometime in Feb 04, Davis-Monthan AFB began enforcing a new rule mandating
the safety vest for all motorcycles on DMAFB. On
9 Apr 04, DM published conflicting and confusing guidance via the Desert
Airman (here). It read: Motorcycle
rides
Security forces are enforcing the requirement for all
motorcycle operators to wear a brightly colored vest with reflective
material i.e., orange, red, green, or yellow over clothing to gain access
to D-M. The Department of Defense Instruction 6055.4 and the Air Force
Instruction 91-207 require: a brightly colored outer upper garment during
the day and a reflective upper garment during the night. Outer upper
garment shall be clearly visible and not covered. These requirements apply
to all operators. On 30 Apr 04,
DM's commander addressed this issue via his Commander's Corner in the
Desert Airman:
Motorcycle
safety equipment
Concern:
I am a Department of Defense civilian employee working at Davis-Monthan.
Because of the nice weather here I enjoy riding my motorcycle most of the
year. I have been through both the beginner and experienced rider
courses on base and I have equipped my bike with safety equipment above
and beyond what is required.
I
have never and will never have a problem complying with Air Force
Instruction 91-207 as it spells out all requirements for on-base riding
and registration. But I am now being told if I do not comply with
the base supplement to AFI 36-2903, I will not be allowed to enter the
base.
I
can understand the need to standardize what protective equipment is to be
worn while in uniform but to make civilians comply with an AFI that covers
Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel is in my opinion
beyond the intent of personal protective equipment for motorcycle riders.
Response:
I consider our requirements in the base supplement a matter of life and
death. Air Combat Command is committed to top standards of
motorcycle safety and it is one we will remain committed too, especially
with the 101 Days of Summer approaching.
As
stated recently in the Desert Airman, changes to the D-M Supplement to AFI
36- 2903, Dress and Personal Appearance, resulted in the enforcement of
the wearing of brightly colored vest for all motorcycle riders, i.e., All
motorcycle riders, both driver and passenger, will wear a brightly colored
vest with reflective material i.e., orange, red, green or yellow over
their clothing while the machine is being operated.
The
D-M Supplement to AFI 36-2903 severely limits the wear of more protective
equipment while a motorcycle operator/ rider is in uniform. We plan
to initiate changes to this supplement which will allow military personnel
in uniform to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with
guidelines prescribed in Department of Defense Instruction 6055.4, AFI
91-207 and the D-M Supplement - as long as PPE does not bear any logos,
designs, or slogans considered to be offensive or obscene.
Additionally, provisions will be added allowing wearing PPE from the
motorcycle to the entrance of the work area during inclement weather.
The
revised D-M Supplement will allow either vest or jackets and will provide
daytime and night-time definitions of what is acceptable. This will
allow wear of various padded and armored vest and/or jackets which have
reflective qualities and are brightly colored.
We
appreciate your comments and understand your concern for your safety and
the safety of personnel who ride motorcycles. Please bear with us a
little longer while we straighten out these supplements and get the
desired requirements published.
Shortly thereafter, I was able to confirm--via
knowledgeable sources--that DM's base supplement(s) correcting this issue
are in work and nearly complete. I've
researched it a bit, and my results are (choose your format):
web page link
rich text document
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