Marine motorcyclists welcome elimination of reflective vest regs

The Marine Corps will no longer require Marines to wear reflective vests and other brightly colored clothing when riding motorcycles.
 
The change comes under the guidance of Gen. James Amos, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, and other members of the Executive Safety Board, in an effort to keep motorcycle requirements in line with subject-matter expert feedback.
 
According to the station safety department, no evidence has been found that the reflective vests prevent accidents or increase rider safety.
 
“If the science doesn’t support it, we need to go back and revisit the rules and make sure that what we are creating is an environment where what we are requiring works,” said Peter Hill, the Corps’ senior safety engineer.
 
With the elimination of clothing color requirements, judgment calls by the provost marshal personnel at the gate over whether or not clothes are bright enough, which have been a consistent point of contention for riders, will no longer be an issue, said Brian Lindstrom, station ground safety manager.
 
All other previous PPE requirements such as helmet, eye protection, full-fingered gloves, over-the-ankle, hard-soled footwear, long sleeves and trousers are still in effect and have not been modified.
 
The ESB also encouraged installations across the Corps to examine their current motorcycle PPE requirements and eliminate those that have not been proven effective.
 
Soon there will be a uniform set of requirements regarding proper motorcycle PPE for all installations across the Corps, said Lindstrom.
 
With summer heat approaching here, some Marines are glad to see the change.
 
“I was a little bummed I just spent 60 bucks on a vest. It will be nice not having to wear one this summer though. Every little bit helps in the heat,” said Maj. John Ryan, Marine Aircraft Group 13 department of safety and standardization officer and motorcycle rider.

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Reprinted from The Desert Warrior, the newspaper of the Marine Corps Air Station.