Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 24-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 22 May 2022 in Temple, Texas, at 0136 local. A Texas state trooper who responded to the accident stated the Soldier was traveling east on Highway 84 when he crossed the median and drifted into the westbound lane. The Soldier’s vehicle struck the front driver's side of a civilian Chevy Suburban. The Soldier was wearing his seat belt at the time of the mishap and there were no passengers. He was transported to the local hospital and pronounced dead upon arrival by the attending physician. The conditions of the occupants of the Suburban are unknown, but no fatalities were reported. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for the Texas Department of Public Safety to release a final report.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 17th PMV-4 fatality of FY22 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Driving Tired is Dangerous

More than 100 million U.S. residents have confessed to falling asleep at the wheel. Approximately 11 million of those drivers admit they have had a car accident or near-accident because they were too tired to drive.

Nearly 1,600 deaths and 71,000 injuries are directly related to driver fatigue each year.

Preventive Measures for Driver Fatigue

When you’re tired, your body reacts differently than it would if it were fully charged and awake. Impairments in human performance when driving tired include slower reaction time, reduced attentiveness and weakened information-processing skills.

One study found that people who get less than five hours of sleep at night were four to five times more likely to get in a car crash.

Here are some tips to help prevent driver fatigue-related crashes:
•Plan to get sufficient sleep before driving. Shoot for at least six hours, but eight hours is recommended.
•Avoid consuming any alcohol when you know you’ll be driving late at night.
•Watch out for medications that may cause drowsiness. If you are taking any medications with this side effect, let someone else drive.
•Use public transportation or ride with a friend.
•Limit your time on the road between midnight and 6 a.m. if possible.

What to do When You’re Falling Asleep at the Wheel

If you’re already on the road and you find yourself getting sleepy, the best solution is to let a passenger drive, or pull over and find a place to sleep for the night. If those options aren’t possible, find a safe place to park and take a 15- to 20-minute nap.

Consuming caffeine equivalent to about two cups of coffee also helps keep you alert when sleepiness hits. Grab a coffee, caffeinated beverage, energy drink or energy tablet. Nothing replaces the benefits of actual sleep, however. Try to find a place to get a good, long rest as soon as possible, such as a hotel or friend’s house, even if you’ve already napped and consumed caffeine.

Finding yourself drowsy while driving isn’t something to ignore. Studies have compared driving tired to driving drunk. Be proactive in preventing driver fatigue and pull over and get some sleep if you find yourself getting drowsy at the wheel. A two-second dream about pizza can easily turn into a fatal car crash.

Tips provided by Health Safety Institute.

 

A 35-year-old Sergeant First Class assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command died in a PMV-4 mishap that occurred 11 May 2022 in Bend, Oregon, at 0348 local. The Soldier was a passenger in a southbound Subaru WRX operated by his uncle when it crossed the centerline into the northbound lane. A northbound semi-truck attempted to avoid the Subaru, but the vehicles collided head-on in the middle of the highway. The roadway was icy at the time of the collision. The Soldier and the two other vehicle occupants were transported to the local hospital. The Soldier was pronounced dead 15May at 1600. The uncle was also pronounced dead by medical staff. This mishap is still under investigation by local law enforcement.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 16th PMV-4 fatality of FY22 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Whether its snow, sleet or ice, winter weather can cause extremely dangerous road conditions. In 2019, there were 440 fatal crashes and an estimated 33,000 injury crashes that occurred in wintry conditions. Preparing yourself – and your vehicle – for winter weather is key.

Slow down. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface. In fact, in 2019, there were an estimated 182,000 police-reported crashes that occurred in wintry conditions. On the road, increase your following distance enough so you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you.

As the outside temperature drops, so does tire inflation pressure. Make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure, which is in your owner’s manual and on a label located on the driver's side door frame. Do not inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself. That number is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for your vehicle.

Some other tips:
•Inspect your tires at least once a month and before long road trips.
•It’s best to check the tires when they’re cold, meaning that they have not been driven on for at least three hours.
•Check each tire’s age. Some vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing tires every six years regardless of use.

An inspection is not just about checking tire pressure and age. Remember to check:
•for any damage or conditions that may need attention.
•the tread and sidewalls for any cuts, punctures, bulges, scrapes, cracks or bumps. The tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch or greater on all tires as well as your spare tire.

Check your local weather and traffic reports before heading out. If your roads are not in good shape, consider postponing non-essential travel until the roads are cleared. If you do have to go out, make sure you are prepared in case you become delayed while traveling. If making a long road trip when winter weather is forecasted, consider leaving early or changing your departure to avoid being on the roads during the worst of the storm.

Do not text or drive distracted, obey posted speed limits and always drive sober. Alcohol and drugs can impair safe and responsible driving by affecting things such as coordination, judgment, perception and reaction time. And remember to always wear your seat belt.

Tips provided by NHTSA.

 

A 25-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 18 May 2022 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 2211 local. The Soldier struck a civilian SUV that was making a left turn. He was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. It is currently unknown if speed or alcohol were factors. This mishap is still under investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 25 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 17th off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY22.

Safety Tips for Automotive Drivers
Motorcycles are hard to see. Not all bikes are like a Harley-Davidson with loud pipes (sorry, metric riders), making them also hard to hear.

When driving, motorists should keep a lookout when changing lanes.

If you are a pedestrian, you should always look twice when crossing a street since motorcycles are hard to spot visually.

Drivers should always review their blind spots with a head check, not just using your mirrors, for a rider.

Always move over to the left lane when passing an on-ramp since you may not be able to see a motorcycle rider merging into traffic.

Most bikes have only one headlight, so they will be difficult to see. Always keep a lookout.

Motorcycles are hard to see from a distance. If the traffic is going 55 mph, it will be at your crossing within 10-15 seconds if within a quarter-mile.

Safety Tips for Motorcycle Riders
Here are some tips for riders that I have learned over the years from riding and taking a rider's course.

Always watch your road surface. Items like painted arrows, railroad crossings, sidewalks and tar-repaired cracks could make your bike tires skid and make you lose balance, leading to a crash even if it has not been raining.

Never do a “panic stop” with your back brake. You will skid. Always get the bike to the upright position (especially if you are in a turn) and apply the front brake quickly. When leaving a parking lot and turning left, and traffic is stopped and the cars turning have allowed space for you to turn left, the oncoming traffic will not be able to see you since the cars are blocking the view. Wait until the traffic moves or turn right and find a safe place to turn left (like a parking lot) to turn around.

When stopped and turning left, always check your rearview mirror for cars approaching you. They may not see you and getting rear-ended by a car can make for a bad day.

Always watch the weather report. Riding in high winds, rain or near freezing is bad mojo.

I hope this will help all of you ride safely. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down.

Tips provided by Christopher Collier from Health and Safety Institute.

 

A 22-year-old Specialist and a 23-year-old Private assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, died in a multivehicle PMV-4 mishap 13 May 2022 in Anchorage, Alaska, at 1750 local. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, disposition of the Soldiers, use of seat belts, and alcohol or drugs as contributing factors, are unknown. Currently, it is unknown who notified 911. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for the Anchorage Police Department to release its final report.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 13th and 14th PMV-4 fatalities of FY22 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.