Mandatory PPE for motorcycle riders Published April 20, 2010 By Rodney Krause 5th Bomb Wing Ground Safety MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Air Force Instruction 91-207 directs military personnel who operate or ride a motorcycle, motor scooter or moped at anytime or anywhere, as well as all motorcycle, motor scooter, or moped riders on an Air Force installation regardless of status (active duty, reserve, civilian, contractor, etc.), must wear the following personal protective equipment or "PPE". Below are the required safety equipment and requirements: Vehicle must have a headlight and it must be ON at all times. Vehicle must have right and left rear-view mirrors. Operator and all passengers must wear a helmet that meets, at a minimum, Department of Transportation (DoT) standards (i.e. Snell, ANSI). Reflective material is recommended for helmets. Operator and all passengers must wear impact resistant goggles or a full-face shield on their helmet. Long sleeve shirt or jacket must be worn. Long trousers must be worn. Full-fingered motorcycle gloves or mittens must be worn. Sturdy footwear (no sandals or open-heeled shoes) must be worn. Over-the-ankle shoes or boots are recommended. Outer upper-garment must be brightly colored during the day and reflective if worn at night. (Note: There are no U. S. Air Force uniforms that comply with this requirement, so something must be worn over the uniform, and reflective belts are not acceptable.) The most common question the safety office receives regarding motorcycle PPE deals with what to wear for the bright upper garment. A rider cannot wear BDUs or ABUs as their only upper garment. They are NOT bright - they are camouflage. The best, but most expensive, solution is the motorcycle jackets made of bright colors and reflective material. These allow the rider to be visible both day and night. The most common solution is to wear the bright orange or green vest with reflective material road construction crews wear. Many styles and models are available including ones specifically designed for motorcycle riders. Backpacks can negate the effectiveness of a contrasting garment or vest. So if a rider wears a backpack, purchase one that is bright (e.g. white, red, yellow, orange, bright green) and has reflective material on it. The bright and reflective backpack can be worn over any duty uniform while on your motorcycle and meets the requirements of bright or contrasting during the day and reflective at night. Compliance with AFI 91-207 is mandatory. Any motorcycle rider who do not comply can be prohibited from entering the installation. For any questions regarding these safety requirements, contact the Wing Safety Office at 723-2259.