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Show HILL TOP TIMES August 22, 1975 From Tlie You don't have to be too alert to have noticed a significant increase in the number of motorcycles on the road these days. The number of motorcyclists in our country has increased from a little more than half a million in 1960 to more than four 1 and a half million today. For a number of reasons, a lot of people have decided that motorcycling is the answer to their transportation problems. Our family here at Hill seems to reflect the trend toward the two-wheel- A quick drive through the east area will convin ce you that this is true. You will see hundreds of motorcycles in the parking lots. Unfortunately, this kind of increase drives almost a parallel increase in the safety statistics. The following figures point out how much of a hazard does exist, but more importantly, these point out that all of us must try to reduce it. Seven hundred thirty-on- e motorcyclists were killed in 1960. Over 3,300 died in 1974. Here on base, six motorcyclists lost a total of 69 work days due to cycling accidents. Eleven others have received first aid at the dispensary for cuts and bruises received while cycling. The burden of reversing this trend rests both with auto drivers and cyclists. Motorcyclists have an obligation to do everything possible to help auto drivers know of their presence. Bright clothes help, so do flags. Driving with headlights on, even during daylight hours, will also make the cyclist more visible. Even with these efforts, however, the motorcyclist is not easily seen, which places a special responsibility on auto drivers. Auto drivers need be aware of the increased motorcycle traffic and be constantly alert to avoid collisions. The same "rules of the road" apply to cycles as they apply to autos. All drivers must increase their level of awareness with the hazards associated with the increased mix of motorcycles in the total volume of vehicular traffic currently on our roads and highways. The Iron Ponies Motorcycle Club on base has a number of programs to highlight the hazards. . Steve Wayment, president of the club, and other club members, conduct a number of classes and activities which are designed to focus on safe cycle operation. They welcome individuals and families. If you are a cyclist, you should certainly become familiar with the Iron Ponies. To reduce cycle safety statistics becomes a joint venture between the cyclist and the auto drivers. Both should sense the responsibility they assume when they venture onto the highways and drive accordingly.. Investigating an accident sometimes becomes an academic and futile exercise. Avoiding the necessity to do so requires the cooperation of all who use our public thoroughfares. -- s- Edmund A. Rafalko Maj.Gen.,USAF Commander Motorcyclists, Automobile Drivers Must Adjust , Both Must Drive Defensively common R. Gayle Anderson, Ground Safety Office Motorcycle accidents nicked the Air Force for a whopping $2.8 million in 1973, accounting for 16.7 per cent of the total private motor vehicle accident dollar loss for that year. Of the 657 injured, 32 succumbed to their injuries; 7 received permanent, partially disabling injuries and one received permanent total disabling injuries. Figures for 1974 have not been compiled as yet, but there is little reason to expect them to be any better. ONLY MILITARY STATISTICS Bear in mind, these are mostly military accidents, since the Air Force's present system of accounting does not include civilian employes injured or Think how much greater the totals would be if they were included too. PATTERN SITUATIONS Taking the highest figures for various situations, the following information produces a pattern of sorts: About 10 per cent of all injuries and fatalities occurred By off-bas- e, off-dut- y. on base. Sergeants had the greater incidence of accidents: injuries. 12 fatalities. Twenty-yea- r olds suffered the most injuries and fatalities. 194 Collisions with accounted for most Excessive vehicle unsafe act on the fatalities). vehicles at intersections fatalities and injuries. speed easily won honors as the most part of the rider (170 injuries, 13 motor No unsafe conditions were noted on the largest number of injury accidents. 4 to 5 p.m. was the worst time of day for accidents. Most injuries occurred at speeds of 0 mph; most 21-3- fatalities at 41-5- 0 mph. Alcohol was a primary contributor to both injuries and fatalities. Skull or brain injuries accounted for 72 per cent of the Isialities. If that sounds like wearing a helmet would have of the 32 fatalities saved the day, forget it. Twenty-si- x were wearing helmets. In all probability however, the fatality total would have been much greater without head protection for the other 79 head injuries. MOTORCYCLES AND ACCIDENTS INCREASING Motorcycle use is increasing daily, so is the potential for increasing accidents. The potential does not have to become a statistic if good riding habits and sense motorcycle operations are developed, not only in the rider, but in his unwilling opponent, the automobile or truck driver. CYCLISTS AND MOTORISTS MUST ADJUST The motorcyclist presents a small, rapidly moving target to the uneducated eyes of the motorist, used to avoiding other cars, trucks and buses. He must train himself to recognize the slender silhouette of the motorcycle rider, adjusting to deft and rapid position changes. The motorcyclist must also adjust to the automobile driver. He must always assume the driver hasn't seen him by giving plenty of warning of intended action. Both must drive defensively. Hill AFB sponsors a motorcycle club whose members and staff promote training programs and inspections to aid the cyclist assigned or working at the base. Aptly named "Iron Ponies," the club has been instrumental in promulgating a sincere motorcycle safety program. Give them your support arid let them provide you with the "Know How" to keep you safe on the road, rather than the "Know Now" painfully earned in an accident. Dues are $5 annually, with a $5 initiation fee. one-tim- e Tho Art Of Listening All Have A Mutual Responsibility To Listen To Pleas Of Others 2nd Lt. Wayne II. Beebe. Chaplain Candidate "Hi, how are you?" I asked. "Oh, ok I guess," was the reply. The voice was low and quite shallow. He seemed unusually quiet and recently began to keep away By from his friends. walked past, I noticed that he was looking down and notice his environs. A red flag went up in my mind. I was hearing a cry for help This person was pleading for someone to listen to him. It is the same sort of plea that each one of us repeats quite As he CI d not often. Unfortunately, many times there is no one to listen. I.for one, think it is a responsibility for each of us to be open to such cries and deal with them the best we can. We ill know how much it means to have someone who cares enough l o take the time to listen to our own cries. When there is someone who will listen, our problems can become easier to handle and ultimately solved. Regards s of rank or social status, we each have the mutual ref ponsibihty to listen to the pleas of others. Yet we ali neglect the responsibility at one time or another. We don't h ive the time to take. We don't krow how to help. -- We have too many problems of our own to help someone else. There is no complete list of excuses for us not to listen. Still, the cries and pleas for someone to listen are made each and every day by many people we come into contact with. If these pleas are not met. some could lead to tragic consequences. I do not propose to present a manual on how to listen, but I do want to point out some things which I feel are helpful in the art of listening. For one thing, I have found that one must be able to kmw when someone is asking for help. It may come in the form of a simple statement, "I want to talk with you." Or it may come in other ways. A person who isunusally silent, seems withdrawn, or overly temperamental can be asking lor help A ( hangc in a person's behavior can be sending out a plea for someone to listen. , There are a number of signals, but a sensitive person will Ik shlf to pick them up. Second, when the plea is heard, one must be able to deal with the person and his problem. Above all, he must be able to feel with the person. He should strive to understand what the person feels and Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase use or patronage without regard to the race, creed, color, national origin or sex of the purchaser, user, or patron A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunities by an advertiser will should relate to how the person is coming across. Listen to what the person is saying, but also listen to how he is saying it. Listen to the tone of voice. Be alert to mannerisms as the person is talking, use of hands, facial expressions, "body language." Hear the person's total communication in order to emphathize with him. Thirdly, be supportive. Refrain from giving immediate advice if at all possible, and avoid relating your own problems. In most cases a person needing help docs not need someone else's solution, nor does ne need to know other people's problems Let the person work through his own problem. Help the person by reflecting his thoughts and feelings allowing him to progress to his own solution. True, there are many times we cannot help people by ourselves. But there are many other resources available. In those cases in which we can do nothing, the best means of helping is assisting the person in seeking out those who can meet his needs. In sum, all I have been saying is that we need to be friends. We all need friends and we can more than get by with a little help from our friends. result in the refusal to print advertising from that source, MorMrdia Sales, Inc., 351 N. Main, Laylon. Telephone: Ogden Salt lake City, Kaysville, Utah. Sorry dassifieds by mail only: P.O. Box 277-63- 3. 621-411- 2; Layton. 37&-506- 5 or |