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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 23-109 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 27-year-old Specialist assigned to Okinawa, Japan, died in a PMV-4 mishap 23 September 2023 in Okinawa at 2154 local. A civilian witness reported that the Soldier drove over a median and struck a light pole. The civilian notified local law enforcement, and the Soldier was transported to the local hospital, where he later died. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the use of a seat belt, speed or the involvement of alcohol, is currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for local law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 36th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2021, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.

Speed also 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.

Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all people on the road around them, including law enforcement officers.

Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging:
 
  • Greater potential for loss of vehicle control

  • Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment

  • Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger

  • Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries

  • Economic implications of a speed-related crash

  • Increased fuel consumption/cost



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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.

Anonymity
A motor vehicle insulates the driver from the world. Shielded from the outside environment, a driver can develop a sense of detachment, as if an observer of their surroundings, rather than a participant. This can lead to some people feeling less constrained in their behavior when they cannot be seen by others and/or when it is unlikely that they will ever again see those who witness their behavior.

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.

If it seems that there are more cases of rude and outrageous behavior on the road now than in the past, this observation is correct — if for no other reason than there are more drivers driving more miles on the same roads than ever before.

Information provided by Stars and Stripes and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
 

 

PLR 23-108 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A 21-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 21 September 2023 at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, at 1145 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he lost control and was ejected from his bike, striking a road sign. Fort Liberty emergency medical services personnel responded and transported him to the local medical center, where he was pronounced dead. Speed was reportedly a contributing factor. The Soldier was licensed, had completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse on 28 February 2023 and was wearing the required personal protective equipment.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 36th PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Safety tip

A motorcycle is inherently more difficult to operate than a passenger vehicle because it requires more physical skill and strength. The relationship of motorcycle speed and stability is also a critical consideration when riding a motorcycle, as the stability of a motorcycle is relative to speed. As speed increases, the motorcycle becomes more stable, requiring less effort from the operator to maintain its balance, even as it becomes less maneuverable. At lower speeds, the motorcycle becomes less stable, requiring greater effort from the operator to balance it.

NHTSA considers a crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an investigating police officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash. Thirty-three percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2021 were speeding, compared to 22 percent for passenger car drivers, 15 percent for light-truck drivers and 7 percent for large-truck drivers.

Tip provided by NHTSA
 

 

 

PLR 23-107 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-4 mishap 17 September 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 0200 local. Three Soldiers were involved in a single-vehicle rollover. Soldier 1 (passenger) sustained fatal injuries and Soldier 2 (passenger) is currently on life support. The driver of the vehicle was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the Soldiers’ use of seat belts or speed as a contributing factor, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 35th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

One person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 13,000 lives lost each year.

By the Numbers

531 - PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES DURING 2021 LABOR DAY WEEKEND

41% - INVOLVED A DRUNK DRIVER

In 2021, two-thirds of drunk-driving crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of .15 g/dL or higher. A BAC of .08 or higher is considered drunk driving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

Have a Plan Whether You're Driving, Riding or Hosting

Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.
  • Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.

  • If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.

  • If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

  • The Effects of Alcohol on Driving

    Just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.

    BAC - PREDICTABLE EFFECTS ON DRIVING
    .02 - Decline in visual functions, decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time
    .05 - Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations
    .08 - Reduced concentration, short-term memory loss, lack of speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception
    .10 - Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
    .15 - Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing

    It's Illegal Everywhere to Drive Drunk

    A DUI can set you back, on average, $10,000, and there could be a crash — people could get hurt or killed.

    Tips provided by NHTSA

 

 

PLR 23-106 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A 27-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 17 September 2023 at 1420 local. The Soldier was reportedly involved in a collision with another vehicle on Interstate 95. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) responded to the scene. The Soldier was transported to a hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he died upon arrival. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the use of personal protective equipment, speed or the involvement of alcohol as contributing factors, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for NCSHP to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 35th PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.
 

 

PLR 23-105 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A 25-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Johnson, Louisiana, died in a PMV-2 mishap 12 September 2023 in Alexandria, Louisiana, at 2134 local. The Soldier was riding while his family followed in a car when a vehicle failed to yield and pulled out in front of him. The Alexandria Police Department (APD) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The Soldier was properly licensed and completed the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. The use of personal protective equipment, speed or alcohol is currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for APD to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 34th PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Safety tip

Riding a motorcycle is fun and freeing, but it can also be risky. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to suffer an accident-related fatality than drivers of other vehicles. And riding at night introduces additional risks.

If you need or want to ride your motorcycle at night, take extra precautions to help protect yourself and others. Here are 10 safety tips you can implement each time you go for a night ride on your motorcycle.

1) Understand the dangers of riding at night

Many road dangers that exist during the day for motorcyclists are amplified at night. For example, it may be harder for other drivers to see you, and you face an increased risk of encountering drunk drivers. Except for the rush hour times of 3–6 p.m., more motorcyclists die in nighttime accidents than during the daylight hours.

Decreased visibility

Even during the day, other motorists often fail to notice motorcyclists. With little to no light at night, their visibility is more limited, putting you at a higher risk of not being seen until a collision is unavoidable.

As you’d expect, your own ability to see is dramatically reduced at night. Your visibility is often limited to whatever appears in your headlight beams and the lights of other vehicles around you.

2) Make sure your lights are working

If any of the lights on your motorcycle aren’t working or aren’t angled properly, it could severely reduce your ability to see—and other drivers’ ability to see you.

Before you do any night riding, make sure every light on every part of your motorcycle is working. You may need someone to help you check all the lights.

3) Use your high beams

As long as you’re not blinding other drivers, use your high beams as much as possible to reduce eye strain and increase your range of vision.

To avoid shining your high beams at other drivers, switch them off as you approach vehicles going the opposite direction, and turn them off if you’re closely following another vehicle.

4) Don’t look directly at oncoming headlights

As noted above, oncoming headlights can be blinding. Instead of looking directly into them, try looking at the right-edge line on the side of the road ahead. This will keep you within your lane and headed in the right direction. Don’t look down and away—it could cause you to inadvertently steer out of your lane.

5) Consider wearing night riding glasses

While dark-tinted visors or sunglasses work great for bright sunny days, these items can impede your vision at night. Instead, consider wearing yellow-tinted visors, photochromic visors, clear glasses.

6) Clear your helmet’s visor

While it’s easy to ignore some dirt, dead bugs, and smudges on your helmet’s visor during the day, these things can impair your vision at night.

7) Make yourself visible

High-visibility clothing is designed with reflective surfaces and bright fluorescent colors that help make you more visible at night. One study found that motorcyclists who wear high-visibility clothing are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a crash.

Use reflective tape

To make you more visible, consider adding retro-reflective strips of tape to your motorcycle and your riding gear.

Add more lights
 
  • Brake light flashers: Brake light flashers modify your brake lights to flash rapidly when you apply the brakes.

  • LED lights: LED lights are brighter they can help you see farther and make you more visible to other drivers at night.

  • Headlight modulator: A headlight modulator switches your low beams from a steady light to a pulsing beam.

  • Auxiliary lights: Instead of replacing your current lights, you can add extra lights to your motorcycle.

8) Leverage the lights of other vehicles

Your motorcycle’s headlights are limited in how much of the road they can show you. Use the lights from other vehicles to your advantage. If you’re behind another vehicle, scan the road ahead to see if their headlights expose any road hazards, like a pothole or road debris.

9) Maintain safe driving distances

When driving at night, give yourself more time and space between vehicles than you might during the day. With limited visibility, it’s harder to see potential obstacles in front of you. The more space you give yourself to stop, the greater your chances will be of stopping safely and avoiding an accident.

10) Take breaks when needed

Riding a motorcycle at night can be particularly tiring because of the limited visibility and intense concentration needed.


Tips provide by IIHS and Dairyland Insurance.
 

 

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