— From left, Mary Peters, Maj. Gen. John Macdonald, Catherine Bell, Maj. Gen. James Nuttall and Rear Adm. A.J. Johnson cut the ribbon for the new Army Mobile Surge Training Capability program.

The 2nd annual National Capital Region Joint Service Motorcycle Safety Event brought Soldiers, civilians and a variety of relevant organizations together with the goal of reducing fatalities by increasing education.

In a message to attendees, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote, ‘‘leaders know the military community enjoys riding motorcycles and also know that proper training, use of protective clothing, helmets and equipment, and reinforced standards will make motorcycling fun, not fatal.”

Speakers included Mary Peters, secretary of transportation; Keith Eastin, assistant secretary of the Army for installations and environment; Maj. Gen. John Nuttall, deputy director of the Army National Guard; Maj. Gen. John Macdonald, IMCOM deputy commander and actress Catherine Bell (‘‘JAG,” ‘‘Army Wives”).

The event emphasized the fact that all riders must do their part to reduce motorcycle accidents and that no one is immune to the hazards.

‘‘Despite progress in safety, 43,000 people die per year [on motorcycles], and that’s simply too many,” Peters said. ‘‘The accident fatality rate is increasing disproportionately to the amount of new riders.”

Nuttall addressed the difficulties of preaching safety to Soldiers who have been in combat.

‘‘The hardest thing to get Soldiers to wear is safety gear,” he said. ‘‘These men and women have been dodging bullets and can come home with a lot of money and a feeling of invincibility.”

Bell has been riding motorcycles for the past 20 years, adding with a laugh, ‘‘that means I started when I was a year old.

‘‘I’ve always believed that riding is serious fun,” she said. ‘‘It’s only fun when you take it seriously. It’s a shame to waste [Soldiers’] talent and dedication for just a few minutes without thought.”

Eastin spoke of the importance of educating Soldiers in all aspects of motorcycle safety.

‘‘We’re insisting that Soldiers are properly prepared before they get on a bike,” he said.

The event also marked the commencement of IMCOM’s latest safety effort, the Army Mobile Surge Training Capability program. They have several large vehicles that hold up to eight motorcycles and travel to various military installations to educate Soldiers.

‘‘When a division comes back [from combat] and orders 1,600 motorcycles, we surge and take five or six of these vans to them. We can set up a course in any parking lot and get these youngsters trained in the basics of riding a motorcycle,” said Macdonald.

Attendees were invited to participate in a variety of activities, all designed to reinforce safe riding practices. Motorcycle safety organizations set up booths and spoke with people who are interested in riding safety.

Command Sgt. Maj. Mione Lawrence is the head of the Wings of Freedom Riders Motorcycle Mentorship Program based at Fort Belvoir.

‘‘We show incoming Soldiers where they can ride safely in this area, and we have a mentor program where we help new riders get comfortable on a motorcycle,” he said.

There were also several drunk driving simulators present. A SIDNE (simulated impaired driving experience) go-cart was available for visitors to try, as well as goggles that simulated intoxication. Volunteers were reminded just how difficult and dangerous it is to drive while impaired.

‘‘We use these devices for a lot of law enforcement and military demonstrations,” said Michael Aguilar, the SIDNE’s operator. ‘‘The message is simple: you can’t drive drunk.”

Those interested in a sober riding experience were in luck. Several motorcycle simulators were available to try, including one that offered varying road conditions.

Visitors left with a sense of the fun and danger that motorcycles can offer. Bell put it best when she said, ‘‘While it’s possible to be addicted to the thrill [of riding motorcycles], you also have to limit the risks you take.”