Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 19-year-old Private First Class assigned Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-2 mishap 30 September 2022 in Oak Grove, Kentucky, at 1400 local. The Soldier was involved in a motorcycle mishap and sustained fatal injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, the Soldier’s use of personal protective equipment and completion of the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training is currently unknown. The Kentucky State Police is investigating the mishap. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for KSP to release its final report.

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

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A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Grafenwoehr, Germany, died in a PMV-2 mishap 11 September 2022 in the Czech Republic near Ortschaft Horovice at 1255 local. The Police of the Czech Republic (PCR) reported that the Soldier was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The unit reported the Soldier as Absent Unknown on 13 September at 1130 hours and was notified of the mishap at 1457 hours. The Soldier was not properly licensed, had not completed the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training, was not on an approved pass, and did not possess a passport. Additionally, the Soldier was given a written order not to operate his motorcycle. The involvement of alcohol or drugs and the Soldier’s use of personal protective is currently unknown. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for the PCR to release its final report.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 25 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 24th off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY22.

Speeding increases the risk of getting into traffic crashes that can severely injure or kill other motorists. Speeding also affects the ability to react in time to avoid having an accident. If they drive too fast, they might not be able to slow down or stop in time to prevent a deadly crash.

This can especially be the case for motorcyclists who have little to protect them from their external environment compared to drivers of enclosed motor vehicles.

Why Drivers Speed
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 9,000 people were killed due to a driver speeding in 2018.

Several factors contribute to the increase in drivers speeding on our roads, as noted by the NHTSA. These include:

-Traffic congestion – With traffic increasing on our roads and highways, some drivers may get frustrated and respond by speeding, passing other cars frequently and recklessly, and become enraged at whoever they believe impedes their progress.
-Running behind schedule – Some drivers speed because they are running late for work or school. They also might be late in picking up the kids or getting to an appointment.
-Ability to be anonymous – When you are driving alone in your car, you are insulated from the rest of the world. This may allow some drivers to develop a sense of detachment, which can encourage them to feel less constrained and act recklessly because no one is witnessing their dangerous behavior.

While a traffic ticket is one consequence of speeding, the act can lead to other unfavorable outcomes with far-reaching implications, including:

-Higher risk of losing control of the vehicle
-Less ability to brake or stop in time if pending danger ahead
-Increased risk of a crash resulting in injuries to one or all parties involved
-Economic impact caused by speed-related accident

All these points illustrate how speeding can affect motorcycle accidents. If the driver of the motorcycle is not able to stop in time or have enough room to stop, they can make a mistake by overcorrecting and causing a crash.

Speeding is also viewed as a form of aggressive driving, particularly when a driver:
-Fails to obey the posted speed limit
-Follows vehicles too closely
-Passes illegally or where it is prohibited
-Changes lanes erratically
-Does not use signals
-Engages in racing

Safety tips by Ben Crump Attorney, NHTSA

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A Sergeant assigned to Fort Hood, Texas died in a PMV-2 mishap 13 August 2022 in Killeen, Texas, at 0030 local. The Soldier was traveling north when he lost control while negotiating a turn. He was ejected into the inside lane of northbound traffic and struck by a pick-up truck. The pick-up truck failed to stop and render aid. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing the required personnel protective equipment and had completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. It is currently unknown if speed, alcohol, or drugs were a contributing factor. The Killeen Police Department is conducting the investigation.

Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 25 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 23rd off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY22.


When it comes to motorcycle riding at night and its safety challenges, different people have different opinions. Some think that driving at night is safe since there are fewer road users and traffic congestion. However, there are still others who view that night riding should be completely avoided due to the associated risks.
No matter the opinion, there are some challenges associated with motorcycle riding at night.

Low visibility

This is the most critical challenge facing motorcycle riding and other road users at night. With low visibility, it becomes very difficult to maintain focus and speed. As a result, many road accidents occur at night.

This could either be that the rider can’t see other objects clearly, or other road users do not see him. However, this can be an easy fix by using motorcycle glasses for night riding that enhance low light visibility.

Obstacles

Obstacles on the road can pose a great safety risk to riders at night. It could be in the form of debris, roadblocks, potholes, manholes, loose gravel, and others. In addition, due to darkness, the obstacle could become less visible to the rider. In such a case, maneuverability will also reduce, and a potential collision could be life-threatening.

Drunk riders and drivers

When you decide to ride in the night, you should know that you’re not the only rider. Some other riders and drivers might be drunk. When a drunk driver is behind the wheel, they can’t maintain good road safety tips. Moreover, if the driver has limited vision, he’ll pose dangerous risks on the road for others.

Animals

Most animals that run in the night will naturally freeze once they gaze into oncoming headlights. If the animal’s eyes emit a glow, it will be a signal to you of its presence. However, if the eyes don’t, you may not notice their presence in time. Therefore, running through them or trying to maneuver around them at close range could lead to an accident.


Motorcycle Safety Tips for Riding at Night

1. Enhance your visibility

Low visibility is a critical safety risk for motorcycle riding at night. But you can make yourself more visible during your night rides in the following ways.

-Wear high visible gear/clothing – Making yourself seen in the night is a great means of reducing accidents. Wear brightly colored clothing or a jacket before your ride. Wearing fluorescent colors such as green, yellow, orange, and white will make you seen by other riders and drivers. When you dress in all black or dark colors, it keeps you hidden and limits your safety.

-Use a white helmet – Wearing a helmet with safety certifications will provide protection in case of accidents. However, while gearing up, select a white helmet. This helps other road users pick you out with ease.

-Include reflective tape – You can increase your visibility by adding reflective tape to your clothing. Such tapes emit reflective lights at night and will help you increase your safety.

-Use a loud exhaust to be heard – Not only should you make yourself more visible, but you also should be heard. Using a loud exhaust for your motorcycle will cause other road users to hear your approaching movement even before seeing you.


2. Increase your Motorcycle visibility

Here are some of the ways you can make your bike more visible:

-Switch on the headlights and clean them when necessary– Riding in the night with a faulty headlight is risky. Instead, ensure your headlight is on and functioning properly. This will help to illuminate your front space. Never ride your motorcycle with streetlights. Also, the lenses of your headlights can get dirty over a long time of usage. With debris and dirt particles on the road, the lenses can become fogged and cloudy. However, with the use of water and clean non-fluffy clothing, you can easily clean the lenses to make the lighting brighter during your ride.

-Ensure your brake handle and lights are functional – Before you embark on a ride in the night, you should check your brake and the brake lights. If other road users can see your brake light, they will know when you’ve hit the brake to slow down. This will increase your safety.

-Clean or replace your visor – Your bike visor can undergo wear and tear. Also, it can become dirty, which will invariably reduce your visibility. Therefore, ensure you regularly clean the visor, and when it becomes too old, replace it.


Sources for the tips provided: https://helmetsadvisor.com/motorcycle-safety-tips-for-riding-at-night/

Helmets Advisor Safety Blog

 

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