JSO Motor Unit Officer Jason Corse said speed continues to be a major factor in many of the crashes they investigate.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The S.M.A.R.T. Motorcycle Safety Course was held Saturday morning at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Police Academy, where riders worked directly with Motor Unit officers to improve their riding skills and safety awareness.
According to JSO, five motorcyclists have died in crashes in Jacksonville so far this year.
JSO Motor Unit Officer Jason Corse said speed continues to be a major factor in many of the crashes they investigate.
“Slow down,” Corse said. “That’s probably one of the biggest things we find with most of these crashes — speed is a factor.”
S.M.A.R.T. stands for Street Motorcycle and Riding Techniques. The course pairs riders one-on-one with motor officers and focuses on emergency braking, slow-speed control and hazard avoidance. Participants used their own motorcycles.
Corse said running red lights combined with speeding is another dangerous trend officers see far too often.
“Speed in front of a red light is a bad combination,” Corse said. “That’s why we do the braking escape exercise. It simulates having to stop in a straight line and then avoid an obstacle. Anybody can go fast, but being able to stop that motorcycle in a designated space is what’s important.”
JSO offers the free course 10 times a year and says it’s designed for both new riders and experienced riders looking to sharpen their skills.
One participant, Raymond Alcobendas, said the training is essential after experiencing multiple close calls on the road.
“There have been more close calls than I’d like to say,” Alcobendas said. “Sometimes it’s my fault, sometimes it’s not. That’s why these courses are important — so we know how to handle those emergencies.”
JSO says instructors repeat exercises as many times as needed to ensure riders fully understand how to control their motorcycles in high-risk situations.
“We want them to take something from this course,” Corse said. “If they want more reps, we do it again and again so they can really learn the ins and outs of their machine.”
Saturday’s course was filled to capacity, but riders who missed it can register for the next S.M.A.R.T. Motorcycle Safety Course scheduled for Feb. 28.
