Motorcycle accidents have taken the lives of more Marines in the past 12 months than has combat in Iraq. CNN reported that 25 Marines have died in motorcycle crashes since November. All but one of the crashes involved sport bikes that can reach speeds of well over 100 mph. In the same period, 20 Marines have been killed in action in Iraq.

While the Marine Corps has long required all Marines who ride motorcycles to take a mandatory basic riding course, a second training course specifically designed to train Marines who ride sport bikes was recently added. Any Marine caught riding without going through the training courses will be punished, even while on leave. And of the 300 Marines who have gone through the sport bike courses, only three have had accidents.

The Marines aren’t unique to this problem. The Navy reported 33 motorcycle deaths over the past 12 months, a 65 percent jump from the previous period. Military officials say they don’t know why deaths are on the rise.  Conventional wisdom would suggest that the victims are all young and foolish 18 or 19 year olds, but among the Navy fatalities five of the victims were 25 and two were 40-year-old sailors.

Top Marine officials are taking the numbers very seriously. The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Conway, and other senior leadership will meet to discuss the issue on Monday. We hope they find a solution before the enemy catches on and starts leaving motorcycles strategically placed along roadsides in Iraq.