SecNav: Motorcycle makers must help with safety

The secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force will meet this week with four major motorcycle manufacturers following a year in which a record number of Marines died in motorcycle accidents, Navy Secretary Donald Winter said.

The meeting will cover motorcycle safety and how the bikes are marketed to service members who buy them, Winter said in a meeting Monday with Military Times reporters and editors. He did not disclose which manufacturers would be present.

“We have so many cases these days with sailors and Marines who buy sport bikes that are really intended for racing purposes as their first motorcycle,” Winter said. “We’ve had cases with people who have crashed them causing disabling injuries and, in a few cases, death, just after a few hours on those motorcycles. To read the rest of the article: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/01/marine_motorcycles_011308w/