Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

Two 19-year-old Specialists assigned to the Army National Guard, Spartanburg, South Carolina, in an inactive-duty status died in a PMV-4 mishap 16 March 2024 in Union, South Carolina, at 1610 local. It was reported by the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) the Soldiers were involved in a vehicle accident. Soldier No. 1 (driver) was driving home from drill with Soldier No. 2 (passenger) when they collided with a pick-up truck. The SCHP responded and pronounced Soldier No. 2 dead at the scene. Soldier No. 1 was airlifted to the local regional hospital. Soldier No. 1 was placed in a medically induced coma on life support, she died three days later from her injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including use of seat belt, speed or alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for SCHP to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 20th and 21st PMV-4 fatalities of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

A 25-year-old Specialist assigned to the Army National Guard, Seagoville, Texas, participating in annual training died in a PMV-4 mishap 18 March 2024 in Weatherford, Texas, at 0100 local. When the Soldier did not report to his place of duty, it was later determined he was involved in a vehicle accident and sustained fatal injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including use of seat belt, speed or use of alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety point of contacts are waiting for law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 19th PMV-4 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

A 34-year-old Master Sergeant assigned to Fort Knox, Kentucky, died from a PMV-2 mishap 7 March 2024 in Rincon, Georgia, at 1730 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he was cut off by another motorist and struck the vehicle’s rear. Law enforcement and emergency medical services responded to the scene and airlifted the Soldier to a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. He was taken off life support and died five days later. The Soldier was wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, completed the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. Speed and alcohol were not contributing factors. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 12th PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Motorcycling can never be done risk-free. With that said, you can decrease your chance of experiencing an accident or getting into a motorcycle collision if you make an effort to do so. While some things will always be beyond your control, you should always do everything within your power to stay safe.

With that in mind, I wanted to take a closer look at some of the things you can do to stay safe while riding your motorcycle. These tips and techniques won’t ensure you’ll avoid a collision, but they should help.

Check the Weather Before You Ride
Weather can play a significant role in your safety when riding. If you’re out during heavy precipitation, then visibility for both you and other motorists decreases dramatically. This can greatly increase your likelihood of getting into an accident or collision.

A simple check of the weather before you ride is all you need. If there’s a chance of rain, it doesn’t mean you can’t ride, but it might impact the gear you wear on that ride.

If, however, you see some severe weather conditions coming up, then it would be in your best interest to stay home.

Scan for Potential Hazards
Hazards are everywhere on the road. Even things that might not seem like hazards for any other motorist can spell disaster for motorcyclists. Here’s a look at some of the most common road hazards for motorcycle riders:

• Railroad crossings
• Loose gravel
• Potholes
• Oil slicks
• Wet surfaces
• Animals
• Road debris

One type of road debris that has received a lot of attention lately is grass clippings. It might seem silly, but freshly cut grass clippings can wreak havoc on your motorcycle’s tires’ ability to get proper grip on the road. This can lead to you going down when you least expect it.

Usually, grass clippings are just left by a careless homeowner or lawn-care service, but that doesn’t stop these grass clippings from being a serious hazard. This has led a lot of motorcyclists to ask, “Is it illegal to leave grass clippings on the road?” The answer depends on the laws in your particular area. I’ll let a member of Spaulding Injury Law describe how this pertains to the law in the video below:

In short, some places have laws that prohibit homeowners and law service personnel from depositing grass clippings on the road. Other places don’t. I urge you to check your local laws, so you know for sure.

Make Sure You’re Seen
Most motorcycle accidents aren’t the rider’s fault. Quite often, a driver of a car, SUV, or truck simply doesn’t see the motorcyclist. While this is their fault, there are also some things a motorcycle rider can do about it.

Focus on being seen. This can start with your gear and your bike itself. You want your bike to get noticed. Lights and reflectors are very good things. When it comes to gear, you need to have reflective material on your gear and preferably bright, easy-to-see colors. Neon colors work best.

Also, when riding, think about your lane position. There is no one lane position that is right all of the time. You need to choose the correct lane position for the situation, and the correct lane position is the one where other motorists can easily see you.

Ride Responsibly and Appropriately
This one is a bit obvious, but never, ever under any circumstance, ride while intoxicated or under the influence. It’s a recipe for disaster and could lead to your death or the death of others.

Riding responsibly is not just about not riding under the influence. It’s also about riding within the speed limit, avoiding silly stunts, or generally acting like an idiot on the road.

Also, make sure to ride appropriately for a specific situation. If it’s raining or traffic is heavy, avoid any aggressive maneuvers. Take things slow and easy while you’re out there. Assess the roads and your surroundings, and then respond appropriately.

Always Have an Escape Route
One thing you should always do no matter where you ride is to always have an escape route. This means you should be able to exit your lane or position at a moment’s notice. It’s your go-to if a car cuts you off or brakes unexpectedly.

Plan your escape routes as you ride. Look for wide shoulders or a middle lane that you could pull into if needed. Also, keep an eye on gaps between cars and between other bikes. These can be how you can get to your escape routes when things are tight.

Keep a Cushion
Having a cushion when riding is key. This applies not only to the car in front of you but the vehicles and obstacles on all sides of you. It’s best to have at least a two-second cushion in front of you (usually a little longer).

When it comes to either side of your bike, just make sure you’re not pinned in by motorists on either side of you. Remember, you want to keep your escape routes open. Sometimes, this will mean speeding up. Other times this will mean you need to slow down.

By keeping your distance and always having a cushion between you and the cars and motorcycles around you, you’ll have time to react quickly to the unexpected.

Keep Up on Your Riding Skills
I’d advise every single person on a motorcycle to take a motorcycle safety course. In these courses, professionals teach you the best tricks they’ve learned over thousands of miles traveled.

While an initial safety course is important, it’s equally important to keep up on your riding skills. I’d urge you to take an intermediate or advanced rider’s course. These courses go beyond what instructors can teach you in a beginner class, and the tips and techniques you’ll learn will help you not only to be safe but become a better and smoother rider overall.

Finally, nothing makes up for practice. The issue with a lot of riders is that they never practice their panic stops or tight cornering or obstacle avoidance. If you don’t practice your skills, you’ll never perfect them.

Information provided from an Article by Wade Theil writing for Web Bike World

A Specialist assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, died in a PMV-4 mishap near the installation 9 March 2024 at 0450 local. Soldier No. 1 was reportedly traveling northbound with Soldier No. 2 as a passenger when he lost control and struck multiple barriers. Soldier No. 1 sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Soldier No. 2 suffered severe burns and was transported to the local Army medical center before being transferred to a higher-level facility for further treatment and evaluation. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, use of seat belt or alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 18th PMV-4 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Most safe driving skills teach you to remain in control of your vehicle at all times. But that's not always possible.

There are times when even the safest drivers lose control of their vehicle: There might be water or ice or gravel that robs us of control, or a collision might cause us to lose control as well. If we lose control of the vehicle, here's how to stay safe.

What you need to do first
We're making an assumption here that you are already driving safely, which means your seat belt is buckled, your hands are at "nine and three" on the steering wheel, and you're not talking on your cellphone.

When you lose control
Here is what you should do when you lose control:

1. Don't panic. Yes, everyone says you shouldn't panic and it's hard not to panic, but panicking is the most detrimental thing to do. Some people freeze up when they panic, and others overcompensate. Avoid panic and stay calm.
2. Keep your hands on the wheel. When some people panic and lose control of the vehicle, their first reaction is to let go of the wheel. Don't do this! At some point you will regain control of the vehicle and having your hands on the steering wheel will make sure that you are ready.
3. Keep your eyes open. When people panic, another reaction is to close their eyes. Don't do this! Keep your eyes open because as soon as you regain control of your vehicle, you will need to see where you are going.
4. Shift into neutral. When the vehicle is in drive, there is power going to the wheels, even if you aren't accelerating. By shifting into neutral, you are eliminating the power to the wheels.
5. Steer into the skid. Whether you're hydroplaning on water or skidding on ice or gravel, it's usually a good idea to steer into the skid. That is, steer in the direction that the back of your vehicle is trying to go. In most cases, this is the best way to regain control of a vehicle.
6. You don't necessarily have to stop the vehicle; you just have to slow down and straighten the car out to regain your footing.
7. Make sure you drive out of the danger before stopping the vehicle and getting out. Check around you to make sure. For example, other vehicles following you might hit the same hazard that you hit and lose control as well. So, make sure you are well away from danger first.

We should drive in such a way that we stay in control of our vehicles at all times. However, some road conditions will still prevail and keep us from remaining in control. Using the techniques described above, you can avoid additional danger to yourself and regain control of your vehicle.

Note: Offered for informational purposes only from Boyd Autobody.