Instructor fatality:a sad day in rider training

[patrick2000]

Initial reports indicate that the instructor fell down while moving backward (attempting to help or maybe stop a student) and smacked
his head. Was conscious and awake, but died at the hospital

MSF Training Incident

Death of an instructor on the range..very unfortunate..

Training incident Ray Ochs
Jan 10, 2006 15:42 PST


On Sunday, January 8, 2006, an incident occurred during a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) certified RiderCourse at a training site in Santa Clarita, California, in which a RiderCoach fell and suffered severe injuries. He was promptly transported to the hospital by emergency medical professionals, but this morning tragically succumbed to those injuries. The incident occurred during a planned range exercise and no other RiderCourse participants were involved.

In 32 years of training in fifty states and beyond, this is the first time a RiderCoach has suffered fatal injuries while on the job. Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified training professionals have trained more than 3.3 million motorcyclists throughout the world since 1973. There are currently over 7,000 motorcycle safety training professionals nationwide and in the Armed Services. These women and men are dedicated professionals who teach the basic skills of motorcycling and share their knowledge and love of motorcycling with others.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has made grief counseling available to the family and friends of the RiderCoach, other class participants, and all training site personnel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected.

MSF thanks all RiderCoaches and RiderCoach Trainers for the challenging work you do, and note the need for caution when helping riders.

.

[meese]

I don't think any of us knows quite how to respond to that. Sad to hear about, for sure.

[motorman587]

Have been a RiderCoach for a couple of years, I have dodge a rider from time to time to get out of their way. Ride where you look. Look at RiderCoach, go to RiderCoach. This fat can run when a 300 +++ motorcycle coming at him. Can not say that I have fallen to get out or stop a rider. Sucky way to go, but he probably was doing what he loved best, teaching others to ride.

[Lynn_Keen]

Certainly sorry to hear of this tragedy. I've been teaching the MSG program for about 8 years and have certainly had my share of close calls. However, this situation sounds like a really unfortunate accident. I know several rider coachs who, for a variety of reasons, keep their helmets on as long as their on the range. Maybe it's not such a bad idea!

[James_Texas]

My Peace be with Him and the Family.......Becareful Out There

[messenger13]

I know several rider coaches who, for a variety of reasons, keep their helmets on as long as their on the range. Maybe it's not such a bad idea!Every time I see the topic of this thread, the above statement haunts me. The question I have is: Why would ANY MSF trainer/instructor take his/her helmet off while on the range? This just seems contradictive to what the MSF is trying to accomplish.

[Lynn_Keen]

Every time I see the topic of this thread, the above statement haunts me. The question I have is: Why would ANY MSF trainer/instructor take his/her helmet off while on the range? This just seems contradictive to what the MSF is trying to accomplish.

Joe, the MSF doesn't teach anyone to walk around on a motorcycle riding range or anywhere else with a helmet on. The lesson is, when your on a bike, wear a helmet. From an instructors point of view, rider coach/student communication is critical to the learning experience. With a dozen bikes buzzing around and a helmet on it can be difficult to hear and correctly understand communication from a student. At least that's been my experience. My earlier comment, which you have quoted, was intended to convey the message that I am aware of some instructors that never remove their helmet even after completing a demo ride. They do so as a result of either fear or some experience of being attack by a novice rider on a 250# motorcycle. Hope that helps explain my earlier statement.

[patrick2000]

Every time I see the topic of this thread, the above statement haunts me. The question I have is: Why would ANY MSF trainer/instructor take his/her helmet off while on the range? This just seems contradictive to what the MSF is trying to accomplish.


Joe,

The idea is to leave the helmet on between demonstration exercises. For several reasons I seldom take my helmet off while on the range. The number one reason is the time limitations between exercises. It is easier, in some courses, to leave all gear on so the instructor is ready to provide an ,on bike, demonstration without having to waste time finding and donning gear. We move around a lot on the range, so the chances are good that a helmet and gloves that are removed will be at the farthest possible location when needed. There is also the safety factor which Lynn pointed out. In this incident a helmet may have saved this instructors life.

Hope this helps.

[motorman587]

I love you guys, but we be teaching in Florida and it be hot. And I mean hot. I use my 1/2 helmet teaching and still it be hot in the summer. I like the point of commiucation, it is already bad if one has a full face helmet on. All you would hear is mmmmmmmmm and mmmmmmmmm.

[messenger13]

I love you guys, but we be teaching in Florida and it be hot. And I mean hot. I use my 1/2 helmet teaching and still it be hot in the summer. I like the point of commiucation, it is already bad if one has a full face helmet on. All you would hear is mmmmmmmmm and mmmmmmmmm.So being "hot" is a good reason to wear a half helmet? I understand completely now officer. Safe or Comfortable. We have choices, now don't we?

And why can't you utilize FRS/GMRS radios to the students? Oh yea...too expensive, I get it.

[mikeinpgh]

A parking lot full of new riders trying to use/listen to a radio
recipe for more disaster

[messenger13]

A parking lot full of new riders trying to use/listen to a radio
recipe for more disasterBut you're saying that a parking lot full of new riders that can't hear ANYTHING is better? Got it! Oh that makes perfect sense now...

[patrick2000]

I love you guys, but we be teaching in Florida and it be hot. And I mean hot. I use my 1/2 helmet teaching and still it be hot in the summer. I like the point of commiucation, it is already bad if one has a full face helmet on. All you would hear is mmmmmmmmm and mmmmmmmmm.

John,

Your point is taken. I agree it is difficult in the heat. My point was that in some rider training courses there is just not enough time to shed the gear every time the instructor dismounts the bike. In the old MRC:RSS and the new BRC it is possible to remove gear because there is time between exercises, however when teaching alone with 8 students I find it more efficient to leave the gear on regardless of the heat, due to time constraints.
I usually wear a flip front in training to assist in communication. Other courses , that require me to communicate with students while we are both in motion, usually offer only minimal time off the bike to , so it is easier to leave gear on. On the other hand , as lead instructor in the BRC (BRT in Oregon) I seldom wear anything but a straw hat to protect the noggin. Now that has got me thinking about summer.

[Ted]

This link provides a bit more detail:

http://www.dailynews.com/santaclarita/ci_3386313

[mikeinpgh]

when i took the MSF we did it with out radios and it worked fine

I think KISS works

[Lynn_Keen]

So being "hot" is a good reason to wear a half helmet? I understand completely now officer. Safe or Comfortable. We have choices, now don't we?

And why can't you utilize FRS/GMRS radios to the students? Oh yea...too expensive, I get it.

Guess I should leave this one die a natural death but of course that's not my nature. I'm not sure how one would utilize something like FRS radio. Here's the problem, there are typically 12 students on the range each with different skill levels and different problems. Therefore, any radio devise that would be set up to work on a single frequency would be very confusion to use. For example, in a single exercise I might have a student who need to pick up a little speed, another who is going too fast, another who needs to brake earlier prior to entering a turn, another who needs more head turn, etc, etc. It would obviously be very confusing to coach individuals on various problems on a radio like FRS. Oh yea, in case you were thinking it, forget separate frequencies for each student. Hell, I have enough trouble remembering all their names let alone who's on what frequency.

[patrick2000]

[/Quote] Lynn Keen.

I'm not sure how one would utilize something like FRS radio. Here's the problem, there are typically 12 students on the range each with different skill levels and different problems. Hell, I have enough trouble remembering all their names let alone who's on what frequency. [/QUOTE]



Lynn, it has became obvious that the Rider Trainers (including myself) who have responded to this post all teach the basic BRC, BRT, ERC, IRC, IRT , courses within the scope of their duties. The basic courses we share in common. However, the discussion has covered rider training that considers specific and advanced courses that vary by location and may , or may not use a range, or have 12 students. Motor officer training, advanced rider training , kart track, on street pursuit , or a track day course may be administered under different circumstance and have regional disparities. So the confusion that has happened here is that we are comparing our personal habits and preferences to a host of different rider training situations.

However, I can help you with remembering the names of the students in the BRC, or MRC:RSS courses. Assuming the same student uses the same bike all weekend as practised here .
The trick is to drill and zip tie a plastic dry erase 8 * 6 "Racing Plate" to the front of all 12 training motorcycles. Write the students name on the plate. The AM group's names go on top and the PM group goes on the bottom, 24 names in all. Now you can call them by name even though they (the students) look different while wearing motorcycle gear. Additionally they will be able to find their own bike easily, especially if you have multiple same model bikes on the range at one time. When wrapping up the course; clean off the plates and you re ready to go.

[motorman587]

Patrick2000,
I can not agree with you more. I have too left my gear also, but most of the time take it off.


About using radios. That would be a nightmare. Just the wear and tear. Batteries it would take, headsets, etc.........

Anybody teaches knows that some people do not need to be on a motorcycle. We coach as best as we can. But some like this quote, "You lead a horse to water, but you can not make drink".

The agree you are not an instructor and sometimes over coaching can cause a problem. So taking in someone helmet as they ride really do not think that would work either. But who am I anyway.

[Lynn_Keen]

Lynn Keen.


Lynn, it has became obvious that the Rider Trainers (including myself) who have responded to this post all teach the basic BRC, BRT, ERC, IRC, IRT , courses within the scope of their duties. The basic courses we share in common. However, the discussion has covered rider training that considers specific and advanced courses that vary by location and may , or may not use a range, or have 12 students.

However, I can help you with remembering the names of the students in the BRC, or MRC:RSS courses. Assuming the same student uses the same bike all weekend as practiced here .
The trick is to drill and zip tie a plastic dry erase 8 * 6 "Racing Plate" to the front of all 12 training motorcycles. Write the students name on the plate. .[/QUOTE]

Patrick,
Your point about different venues having different needs is well taken. It's certainly possible that a communication devise could be a real asset in certain training situation.

Also, thanks for the suggestion on name plates. I'll talk to our school owner about implementing your technique. Currently my method is not so neat or sophisticated but it is effective. I simply pass around a roll of wide masking tape and a marking pen. Each student writes their name on a piece of tape and sticks it on their jacket. Crude but cheap and effective.

[wacolt]

Certainly sorry to hear of this tragedy. I've been teaching the MSG program for about 8 years and have certainly had my share of close calls. However, this situation sounds like a really unfortunate accident. I know several rider coachs who, for a variety of reasons, keep their helmets on as long as their on the range. Maybe it's not such a bad idea!

Lynn,
I'm new to the K1200 LT and am also working on getting my RiderCoach certification in Texas. Your recollection of RiderCoaches leaving their helmets on during range work was the best advice I've found lately.

Thanks for sharing that pearl of wisdom!

Ride safe,
Curt

[NOGILLS2]

If my memory is right this would be the second fatality in MSF classes. Seems a coach was killed a year or two ago from the same issue, fell and hit his head. It seems he was trying to avoid a student and bike.

We discussed it at instructor training in Dec., while discussing risk management on the course. Not allowing students to get behind you on the course.

[jayz9705]

Having read thru the entire thread, there is another factor to consider. How the class is run affects the dress of the Rider Coach. In CT, there is a Primary and an Asst. The Primary does all of the classroom, range instruction and de-brief. The Asst does all the riding demos. Both operate identically during the exercise.

The result is that the Primary will normally not be dressed for riding during the class. I too have dodged my share of students, caught the motorcycle and student, clipped the cut-off switch as they went by, etc.

I also have tripped and fallen while walking backwards during exercises, which we tend to do a lot of. It is usually during the Surmounting Obstacles exercise that it happens(guess what I trip over).

Joe, your not being an instructor leaves you with a severe lack of knowledge as to the why, how, and what we do on the range, what our responsibilities are, and the conditions we must work under. Please do not make judgements about something you know nothing about, and do not trivialize the situation until you do have all the facts. Thanks.

[patrick2000]

The Asst does all the riding demos. Both operate identically during the exercise.

The result is that the Primary will normally not be dressed for riding during the class. I too have dodged my share of students, caught the motorcycle and student, clipped the cut-off switch as they went by, etc.



Joe, your not being an instructor leaves you with a severe lack of knowledge as to the why, how, and what we do on the range, what our responsibilities are, and the conditions we must work under. Please do not make judgements about something you know nothing about, and do not trivialize the situation until you do have all the facts. Thanks.

Jay,

Thank you for clarifying. And to further reinforce your argument I will add that how the program is applied (local issues) , or what type of program is being taught, for example, BRT, BRC, RSP, IRT, ART,or ERC will change the conditions.
Even , as instructors we are talking about a broad area of diverse rider training with varying rules, policies and procedures.
In my home state we do not have Primary/Assistant roles in our basic novice course, although I understand your point , as that is the way we done it for many years. In essence we practise a system of, whoever is closest to the task at hand performs that task.

That is why I said in an earlier post that "[i]t is easier, in some courses, to leave all gear on so the instructor is ready to provide an ,on bike, demonstration without having to waste time finding and donning gear. We move around a lot on the range, so the chances are good that a helmet and gloves that are removed will be at the farthest possible location when needed."

Again this is regional and the opinion stated, by me, however it may vary from instructor to instructor.

[motorman587]

If my memory is right this would be the second fatality in MSF classes. Seems a coach was killed a year or two ago from the same issue, fell and hit his head. It seems he was trying to avoid a student and bike.

We discussed it at instructor training in Dec., while discussing risk management on the course. Not allowing students to get behind you on the course.

I too thought, not another one, but this thread is a year old, so maybe you are thinking as I was. Just an old thread.

[patrick2000]

I too thought, not another one, but this thread is a year old, so maybe you are thinking as I was. Just an old thread.

John,

Thankfully, I believe you are right. This is the only instructor fatality I have heard of to date.

[jayjacobson]

Instructor fatality:a sad day in rider training.

A sad day for all riders. How many of us owe our lives to chose that taught us so well at the MSF class?