News

Traffic safety a continuing focus for fall months

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  With the Critical Days of Summer in the rearview mirror, it's time to look down the road and prepare for the fall and winter months ahead.

"This fiscal year, the Air Force has suffered nearly 50 off-duty fatalities, with half of these occurring during three-month Critical Days campaign, due to safety mishaps," according to Lt. Col. Russell Parker, 446th Airlift Wing flight safety officer. "A high percentage the summer fatalities were Airmen on motorcycles and in automobiles. This shows that traffic safety should be a concern going into the fall months."

According to Parker, the motorcycle deaths were due to:

· excessive speed
· loss of control
· carelessness
· motorcycles beyond the riders' capabilities.

"They bite off more than they can chew by buying a bigger and faster bike," Parker said. "The average rider only needs a 500cc bike. They have enough power to maneuver and maintain speed on the highway and be able to pass slower vehicles if need be and they also provide a good solid ride. Anyone who rides a 1,500 to 1,800cc bike should have an experienced riders' course under their belt."

There are motorcycle safety courses on Joint Base Lewis McChord that are available for Reservists. For more information, go to https://apps.imcom.army.mil/airs/.

Shifting gears to automobile accidents, head-on collisions and loss of control due to higher rates of speed were the main causes of the automobile-related deaths, according to Parker. Fatigue is also a factor.

"A lot of people go on leave during the summer and take long trips," he said. "They drive longer than they should and during the late-night hours because they don't want to burn most of their leave on the road. They drive faster and with less rest periods than they should. At night a lot of wild animals cross the road. Add that to fatigue and it can be fatal due to delayed reaction time."
Driving while fatigued can be as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Parker said.

He offers these tips for when planning long trips:

· Get plenty of rest before taking the trip
· If driving with another person, take turns driving
· Take driving breaks, eat, stretch, and obey traffic laws.

A misconception a lot of people have about alcohol-related incidents, according to Parker, is that most of them occur during the summer holidays. The truth is, alcohol-related mishaps are a year-round issue.

"Thanksgiving is the number one DUI holiday and Halloween is also up there," Parker said. "Drivers also need to be aware of fall festivals such as, Octoberfest, Greek Festival, and the local concert days that are coming up where people attending tend to consume more alcohol."

Remember around that time of year the leaves are falling from trees, mixing a road concoction of leaves, rain, and oil together on the road surfaces.

"Add leaves to the oil on the road that surfaces and your vehicle can hit this like 'greased lightning,'" said Lt. Col. Kevin Welin, 446th AW chief of safety.

Black ice late in the fall during early-morning hours is also important to be aware of, he said.

Another morning-hour road condition to consider is fog.

"Fog can reduce visibility to a quarter of a mile or less, creating hazardous driving conditions," said Tech Sgt. David Breeding, 446th AW ground safety assistant. "Drive with low headlights on and slow down. Fog can create an illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Keeping as much distance as possible between you and the vehicle in front of you. If something were to happen, your reaction time is severely reduced."

Despite being aware of factors that are beyond a vehicle operator's control, vehicle maintenance and awareness are proactive measures that can be taken to limit potential mishaps.

"Maintain proper tire pressure and tread, checking your brake lights, and checking on road conditions before you drive some of the most important things you can do to prevent accidents," said Breeding.

Breeding also suggests drivers store emergency supply kits in their vehicles.
"You should have emergency supply kits in your vehicle in case of a crisis," he said. "Vehicle accidents, stranded in bad weather or remote locations, traveling long distances, and helping others are other reasons why a kit would be useful."

According to Breeding, the kit should contain the following items:

· Flares or a reflector triangle kit
· Flashlight and extra batteries
· Bottled water
· Non-perishable food such as, candy and beef jerky
· First aid kit
· Disposable camera
· Tire flat fixer
· Wool blanket or sleeping bag
· Sanitation and hygiene items
· Fire extinguisher
· a knife

For easy storage and mobility, Breeding recommends these items be put in a backpack.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 450,000 injury crashes occur annually in adverse weather conditions or on slick pavement. If you suspect there might be adverse weather on your travels, check local road conditions before leaving. Be prepared; always leave plenty of time to get where you're going.

For helpful resources, go to the American Automobile Association website at www.aaa.com or the Washington State Department of Transportation site www.wsdot,wa.gov.

For additional safety information, contact the 446th AW Safety Office at (253) 982-2050.