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Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

About Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

PLRs are intended to be used as an engagement tool for leaders to discuss the hazards and trends impacting Soldier safety and readiness. A PLR contains only basic information, as the investigation is ongoing, but provides sufficient background to allow leaders an opportunity to communicate risk at the Soldier level.

 

PLR 21-093 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

A Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Drum, New York, died in a PMV-4 mishap 1 September 2021 near the installation at 0915 local. The Soldier entered the highway off ramp at a suspected accelerated speed, lost control, overcorrected, and rolled the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 0932. Seat belts are suspected to have been used since the Soldier had to be extracted from his vehicle. It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were contributing factors to the mishap.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 40th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding endangers everyone on the road. In 2018, speeding killed 9,378 people. We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users.

Speed affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit, but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.

What Drives Speeding?
Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. Several factors have contributed to an overall rise in aggressive driving:

Traffic
Traffic congestion is one of the most frequently mentioned contributing factors to aggressive driving, such as speeding. Drivers may respond by using aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, changing lanes frequently, or becoming angry at anyone who they believe impedes their progress.

Running Late
Some people drive aggressively because they have too much to do and are running late for work, school, their next meeting, lesson, soccer game, or other appointment.

Disregard for Others and For the Law
Most motorists rarely drive aggressively, and some never do. For others, episodes of aggressive driving are frequent, and for a small proportion of motorists, it is their usual driving behavior. Occasional episodes of aggressive driving – such as speeding and changing lanes abruptly – might occur in response to specific situations, like when the driver is late for an important appointment, but is not the driver’s normal behavior.

 

 

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