As we near the riding season this
is a great time for reflection. Riding
is fun when riding is safe! At the
end of the day we all want to return
home with nothing more painful than
a sunburn. What a great time of year
this is for a mental boost! I can
only speak for myself but I know
that I love to learn because I know
that there is always some sort of
information that I can use that will
make me a “Better Biker”.
Like any of us, not everything I
hear is correct and I don’t
agree with everyone’s opinions
BUT I am willing to listen. If I
don’t listen, how can I learn?
Why should they listen to me when
I try to impart some of my years
of experience? There is a lot of
information out there and Road Guardians
brings National experts together
once a year for a conference that
is aimed toward helping any biker
to glean new information. We look
for people who can address one of
the six educational areas
of motorcycle safety identified in the National
Agenda for Motorcycle Safety!
On Friday we will
start out with breakfast and an overview
of motorcycle safety topics.
Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo
will talk about why this safety is
critical to the “Biker lifestyle” then
have an interactive discussion about
how to market motorcycle safety and
how to encourage those around you
to get properly trained and
licensed. We will explore resources
available to people who are looking
for new or existing topics. This
is a MUST for safety officers!!!
After a lunch buffet we will do a Mass
Adult and Child CPR with AED session which can be a review for
you or if you desire certification
we will give you an opportunity to
test out and get your card right
on the spot! We will finish the day
with Paul Cote (MA) giving a presentation
on motorist awareness and rider conspicuity.
Friday evening is a networking cocktail
party for guests who are staying
for the full conference. Hors d oeuvres
and the SMARTrainer will be available.
We will film participants before
and after alcoholic beverages to
watch the effects of alcohol then
will play the video back for everyone’s
amusement on Saturday.
Saturday starts with breakfast
and our keynote speaker, Al Hydeman
(CA)
-Director of Design, Direction and
Development for the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation. Al will talk about Life
Long Learning and what the MSF is
doing to encourage riders to never
be satisfied with their current level
of knowledge. Michael Aguilar (WI – CEO
of Innocorp) will explain impaired
rider programs, Randy Sevenish (IN
attorney) will lead a presentation
about Insurance changes that affect
riders, Andy Goldfine (MN - CEO of
Aerostitch) will present re: protective
apparel, Teresa McClelland (IL – Emergency
Care RN educator) will lead an interactive
hands on presentation on Emergency
Skills, Jayson White (OH MSF) will
present a Group Riding presentation.
The conference will end with a
banquet with London Broil, Chicken
Picata,
Pork Loins and veggies, salad, rolls & dessert.
Special people will be recognized
with ASMI Instructor of the Year,
RG Volunteer of the Year, and Certificates
of Outstanding Service to the Motorcycling
Community. Don’t miss this
opportunity to heighten your skills
and awareness. Day passes as well
as full conference passes are available.
Affordable for everyone! www.roadguardians.org/bbc.php
Leading Safety Experts Featured
Presenters for Motorcycle Conference
Biker’s Betterment
Conference Provides Two Days
of Expert Content
on Motorcycle Safety
Milwaukee,
WI – February
17, 2011 Accident Scene Management
Inc. (ASMI), a national provider
of training for motorcycle safety
related classes, today announced
they will be holding their 2nd
annual Biker’s Betterment
Conference (BBC) March 25-26,
2011 in Chicago, IL at the Doubletree
Hotel & Convention Center
O’Hare. .
The conference is being hosted
by ASMI’s Road Guardian
Program and includes nationally
known speakers addressing each
of six educational categories
derived from the National Agenda
for Motorcycle Safety: Rider
Education, First Response, Motorist
Awareness, Impaired Riding, Apparel,
Laws/Govt.
The conference includes Mass
CPR training on Friday afternoon
followed by a Friday evening
cocktail reception with the opportunity
to network with National Leaders
in motorcycle safety for those
attending the full conference.
Daily passes are also available.
On Saturday, attendees will also
have the opportunity to experience
skills demonstrations coordinated
by Bob Ritter, coordinator of
Northern Illinois Motorcycle
Safety Project and a motorcycle
crash simulation coordinated
by NFP Rescue Riders. An awards
banquet emceed by Open Road Radio
and Gina Woods will complete
our conference Saturday evening.
The educational sessions feature
leading industry experts including:
-
Keynote Speaker: Al Hydeman
Director of Research Design & Development
for the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation – Al
will share why motorcycling
is not a passive sport. He
will
enlighten us with ways the
MSF encourages Education
and supports
the mission of ASMI/Road
Guardians through Life Long
Learning!
- Andy Goldfine, Design Manager
of Aero Design & Manufacturing “Protective
Apparel Design”
- Michael Aguilar: “Impaired
and Distracted Driving – Prevention
Campaigns that work.” -
- Teresa “Trauma Mama” McClelland,
RN, TNS – “Prevent
Further Injury”
- Paul W. Cote, New England
Road Riding Delegate to AMA
Congress – “Check
Twice”
- Jayson White: MSF Site Coordinator
for the MSF Campus @ Troy,
OH coordinating the SMARTrainer
and Group Riding workshop.
- Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo,
Founder of ABATE of Wisconsin
and honorary member of Lawmakers – “Preserving
Motorcycling – Sport
vs Lifestyle”
- Attorney Randy Sevenish will
coordinate a panel discussion
re: insurance changes that
affect you! experts will answer
your
questions.
Additional conference
information
is available online at www.roadguardians.org/bbc.php or by calling toll free (877)
411-8551
# # # About Accident Scene
Management Inc. – ASMI, headquartered
in Big Bend, WI est. 1996,
is a 501c3 non-profit organization
supported by motorcyclist for
motorcyclists, and founded
by Vicki Sanfelipo, RN/EMT.
The courses are recognized
by the American Motorcyclist
Assoc. (AMA), American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC)
and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
(MSF). Many insurance companies
offer discounts for course
completion.
About Road Guardians - Road
Guardians is a program aimed
at reducing injuries and fatalities
to motorcyclists by promoting
safety on the road, and more!
Road Guardians uses a program
of Resources, Rewards and Recognition
to encourage educated responsible
riding. Roadguardians.org provides
a one stop online resource for
all motorcycle safety, legal
and rider networking.
About Vicki Sanfelipo,
RN/EMT – Vicki
is the author of A Crash Course
for the Motorcyclist, and established
the non-profit organization Accident
Scene Management, Inc. in 1996.
Vicki has over 25 years of experience
in the field of nursing from
Critical Care to the Operating
Room and is a licensed EMT. She
teaches CPR, Defibrillators,
and First Aid for the American
Heart Association. She has been
riding her own motorcycle since
1987. She supports her love of
motorcycles and safety through
her memberships in the Iron Butt
Association, a life member of
A.B.A.T.E., various HOG chapters,
Motorcycle Riders Foundation,
BOLT, Patriot Guard, St. Croix
Valley Riders, and the American
Motorcyclist Association. Vicki
has given hundreds of presentations
on motorcycle safety, and represents
Motorcycle Trauma issues as a
partner in the NHTSA (DOT) hosted
motorcycle safety network meetings
in Washington D.C.
MOTORCYCLE
SAFETY AND DISTRACTED DRIVING by Randy Sevenish
In
late 2010 the U.S. Department
of Transportation held their
Second National Distracted
Driving Summit. During
the Summit, Secretary Ray
LaHood announced that 550
U.S. companies - employing
1.5 million people nationwide – have
committed to enacting anti-distracted
driving employee policies
in the next twelve months.
In addition the Secretary
talked about the many initiatives
and commitments being made
by people and organizations
throughout the country to
address the epidemic of distracted
driving in America.
As
motorcyclists this is an issue
of extreme importance to us.
With distracted driving on
the rise it is nothing short
of imperative for bikers to
drive defensively and be prepared
for the inevitable distracted
driver that you will at some
point encounter whom will turn
in front of you and then compound
the harm by claiming they did
not see you.
Research
shows that two-thirds of all
motorcycle crashes involving
an automobile are caused by
the driver of the automobile.
Our primary concern regarding
distracted driving is to better
equip you as bikers to take
extra measures to avoid being
victims of distracted drivers.
I hope it goes without saying
that you are not engaging in
distracted driving yourselves.
Here
are some tips for bikers to
avoid being the victim of a
distracted driver:
1. Use your high beams at all times when riding
to help ensure that you are visible to other drivers.
2. Wear protective gear that has some reflective
element and wear clothing that has a high visibility color in it.
3. Keep a little more distance between you and
other vehicles then you have in the past. This small extra measure could help
you compensate for the sometimes erratic moves of a distracted driver.
4. Make sure you do not drive in the other driver’s
blind spot. If you can see the other driver in your side view mirror, then it
is fairly likely that he can see you.
5. Try to avoid driving in close proximity to
trucks, vans and other large vehicles that may block the view of your motorcycle
to other drivers.
6. Make all lane change moves carefully, being
sure to signal clearly and allow enough time to be seen.
7. Flash your brake lights a few times before
you slow down or stop. This will help ensure that other drivers see you.
Always
remember that your biggest
challenge is to be seen by
other drivers. The fact that
many of those other drivers
are also distracted drivers
makes it all the more important
that you refine your safety
practices when riding a motorcycle.
Members, if you signed up
in March 2010, your renewal
is due by 3/31/11. Certified members
do not have any additional
fees for renewal; it's the same
as everyone else.
Remember,
if you order RG merchandise at
the time of your renewal, shipping
is free!
