PLR 23-050 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life
A 37-year-old Sergeant First Class assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, died in a PMV-2 mishap 22 May 2023 at 2100 local. The Soldier was riding his sport bike when he collided head-on with a vehicle that failed to yield the right-of-way while making a left-hand turn. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The Soldier was current on his motorcycle safety requirements and wearing all personal protective equipment. Alcohol and drugs were not contributing factors in this mishap.
Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 17th PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.
Safety tip
Motorcycles — Sharing the road safely
What can you do to protect motorcyclists?
Many drivers are not aware of how to safely share roads with motorcycles. The vast majority of vehicle versus motorcycle crashes happen in intersections.
Before making a left turn, be sure traffic is clear, and then look again for motorcycles. A vehicle turning in front of motorcycles is the number one cause of fatal accidents for motorcyclists.
Because of road conditions, including potholes, dead animals and road debris, motorcyclists often need to weave from side to side within their lane. Give them as much room as possible.
Remember that motorcyclists have little personal protection other than helmets and the clothes they are wearing, so please help protect them.
Tips for sharing the road with motorcycles
Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. Several factors have contributed to an overall rise in aggressive driving:
- Motorcycles have use of the complete traffic lane. Do not share lanes with motorcycles.
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist is the most frequent driver error in collisions involving a motorcycle and another vehicle.
- Often drivers do not see motorcyclists until it is too late. This is why it is important for drivers to continually scan the roadway in front, to the rear and to the sides.
- Motorcycles accelerate, turn and stop more quickly than other vehicles. Bad weather, rough road surfaces or inexperience may cause a motorcyclist to fall. All of these are reasons why you should increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles.
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