Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 19-year-old Private assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-4 mishap 15 October 2023 on the installation at 0914 local. The Soldier was reportedly driving when a vehicle operated by another Soldier crossed into his lane and struck him head-on. He was transported to the local medical center, where he died. The other Soldier remains hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the use of a seat belt and speed or alcohol as contributing factors, are currently unknown.

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

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A 20-year-old Specialist and a 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-4 mishap 13 October 2023 in Florence, Kentucky, at 2358 local. The Soldiers reportedly were traveling on the interstate and were involved in a vehicle accident. The Kentucky State Police (KSP) responded and pronounced the driver dead at the scene. The other Soldier was ejected from the vehicle and transported to the local hospital, where she died from her injuries. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor and seat belts were not used. It is currently unknown if speed was a factor. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for KSP 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 first and second fatalities of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

 

Safety tip

One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt – the national use rate was at 91.6% in 2022. Of those killed at night in 2021, 57% were unrestrained. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to make sure you and your family are properly buckled up every time.

In 2021, 26,325 passenger vehicle occupants were killed. About 50% of those killed were not buckled (based on known seat belt use.)

1. Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly.
2. Air bags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up.
3. Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash.

 

The benefits of buckling up are equally clear:

If you buckle up in the front seat of a passenger car, you can reduce your risk of:

• Fatal injury by 45% (Kahane, 2015)
• Moderate to critical injury by 50%

 

If you buckle up in a light truck, you can reduce your risk of:

• Fatal injury by 60% (Kahane, 2015)
• Moderate to critical injury by 65% (NHTSA, 1984)

 

Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 39 minutes. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2020. These deaths were all preventable.

Alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination. All these abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely.

As alcohol levels rise in a person’s system, the negative effects on the central nervous system increase. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then it passes into the bloodstream, where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. A person's alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called blood alcohol concentration, or BAC. At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

However, even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2021, there were 2,266 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL.

BAC is measured with a breathalyzer, a device that measures the amount of alcohol in a driver’s breath, or by a blood test.

 

The Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) IN G/DL, TYPICAL EFFECTS, PREDICTABLE EFFECTS ON DRIVING

.02, Some loss of judgment; relaxation, slight body warmth, altered mood. Decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target), decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention).

.05, Exaggerated behavior, may have loss of small-muscle control (e.g., focusing your eyes), impaired judgment, usually good feeling, lowered alertness, release of inhibition. Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations.

.08, Muscle coordination becomes poor (e.g., balance, speech, vision, reaction time and hearing), harder to detect danger; judgment, self-control, reasoning and memory are impaired. Concentration, short-term memory loss, speed control, reduced information processing capability (e.g., signal detection, visual search), impaired perception.

.10, Clear deterioration of reaction time and control, slurred speech, poor coordination, and slowed thinking. Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately.

.15, Far less muscle control than normal, vomiting may occur (unless this level is reached slowly or a person has developed a tolerance for alcohol), major loss of balance. Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing.

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A 23-year-old Sergeant assigned to Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, died in a PMV-2 mishap 15 August 2023 in Savannah, Georgia, at 0147 local. The Soldier was reportedly traveling home when he crashed his motorcycle into a guardrail. The Savannah Police Department (SPD) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. He was reportedly wearing personal protective equipment. Speed or the involvement of alcohol are currently unknown. The Soldier had a valid license; however, completion of the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training has not been verified. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for SPD 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 38th PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Safety tip
According to a declaration by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 27% of motorcycle fatalities occur between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Night is not the best time to ride a motorcycle.

The Risks of Motorcycle Night Riding
1. Poor Visibility
It’s hard to see clearly at night, and if you cannot see clearly, you can easily suffer a puncture or even crash. It even gets complicated when the darkness combines with fog or rain as the roads become almost impassable.

2. Stray Animals
It’s often at night that wild animals cross the road. Unlike you, they do not understand road safety. Not only can you knock them over, but they could also cause you to lose control, and it could end fatally for you and the animal.

3. Drunk Drivers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than three-fourths of nighttime motorists’ deaths are related to alcohol impairment. In most cases, it’s the drivers who are drunk.

4. Hidden Hazardous Objects
Since there is poor visibility, it’s hard to notice obstacles such as debris, fallen trees, potholes and loose gravel on the road. These obstacles pose an immense challenge on the road and could easily cause you to crash if you are not careful.

5. Oncoming Vehicle Headlights
It’s easy to get distracted by the headlights of oncoming vehicles and lose control of your motorcycle at night. Often, the flickering light makes it appear like the car is far when it’s near. You may not have enough time to prevent a head-on collision.

6. Nighttime Temperatures
Ordinarily, especially in mountainous regions, the nights get colder than the day. It sometimes freezes at night, which means you could easily suffer hypothermia (where your body loses more heat than it produces).
Hypothermia can easily happen if you ride your motorcycle unsafely in winter. What’s even trickier is riding in the wind, which makes you feel cold and may induce hypothermia.

Other Safety Tips on How to Ride a Motorcycle at Night
Slow down for better reaction – It’s hard to respond to danger if you are riding at full speed. Learn to slow down. It keeps you safe.

Keep a safe riding distance – It’s dangerous to follow motorists closely. If they brake suddenly, you may end up bumping into them.

Stay away from blind spots – Don’t ride into places you cannot see. It’s too risky, as you could crash.

Stay alert – You should always scan your eyes around to identify potential dangers and react to them accordingly. Just ensure you are not too distracted to lose control of your motorcycle.

Use road markings – Road markings can give you a proper road layout at night. Use them to the maximum. For example, road marker posts indicate the direction of the road curve even before you can get to it. The white markers show an offside curve, while the red markers show a nearside curve.

Check the bike’s condition beforehand – Ensure your motorcycle is in good condition. Check the brakes, tires, gears and every other part to ensure they are working well.

Fuel up – This applies to you and your motorcycle. Ensure you eat well and hydrate before jumping onto the bike for a nighttime ride. As for your motorcycle, ensure you have enough gas to last you the trip.

Stay sober – Don’t go riding your motorcycle if you are under the influence. This doesn’t just apply to nighttime but to every other time. Not only does intoxication impair your judgment and lead to injuries or deaths, but it could get you arrested.

Tips provided by IIHS and Motorcycle Exploits Blog

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A 25-year-old Sergeant assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, died in a PMV-2 mishap 7 October 2023 in Crestview, Florida, at 1227 local. The Soldier was riding southbound when he was struck by a civilian vehicle making a left-hand turn. Local law enforcement responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The Soldier was licensed and had completed the Basic RiderCourse on 20 April 2023. He was wearing all the required personal protective equipment. Speed or 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 27 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the first PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.
 

Safety tip 

Recent statistics reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggest that many motorcycle accidents happen at intersections when a motorist makes a left turn in front of a motorcyclist traveling straight, thereby failing to yield the right-of-way to the motorcyclist. These are potentially deadly motorcycle accidents because the rider will either strike the side of the car turning left, possibly flipping the bike over the car, or will need to make a very risky maneuver to avoid doing so. Such emergency swerves often end poorly for even the most experienced motorcyclist. 

NHSTA estimates that these unsafe left turns accounted for over 40 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involving a collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle. Accidents of this sort happen for a couple of reasons. First, motorcycles are just harder for drivers to see, so a driver who is even slightly inattentive when turning left may never notice an approaching motorcycle. Moreover, although probably not intentionally, drivers do tend to easily forget about or ignore motorcycles that are on the road. 

Another reason these accidents happen is that it can be very hard for a driver who is getting ready to turn left to determine the actual speed of an approaching motorcycle, as well as how far the motorcycle is from the intersection. The end result is a driver who gets a little impatient may wind up pulling out in front of the oncoming motorcycle. 

The bottom line is that while common, these failure-to-yield accidents are entirely preventable. All motorists need to do is check and double-check before turning left. If they do see an oncoming motorcycle, it’s probably best to let it go by. If a motorist does not follow these simple tips and causes an accident, they may be liable to pay compensation. 

To avoid left-turn accidents on motorcycles, you should: 

• Slow down when approaching intersections. 
• Always assume that oncoming cars will turn left at the intersection. 
• Always assume the oncoming driver does not see you. 
• Always have an “out” planned before you need it. 
• Cover your brakes to reduce your reaction time. 
• Increase your visibility by wearing high-visibility or bright clothing and making sure your riding gear has a reflective design. 
• Ride in the best spot possible by varying speed and lane position. 
• Plan escape routes to take evasive action if a driver violates a right-of-way. 
• Ride within your limits. 
   

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A 28-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 8 October 2023 in Austin, Texas, at 0315 local. The Soldier was struck by a civilian vehicle while crossing the street at a crosswalk and sustained fatal injuries. The Austin Police Department (APD) responded to the scene. It is currently unknown where the Soldier was coming from or headed or who notified 911. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for APD to release its final report.

Since 2019, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishaps. This was the first off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatality of FY24 and above the number of off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatalities from this time last year.
 

Safety tips

At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrian injuries and fatalities remain high. In 2021, 7,388 pedestrians were killed – a 13 percent increase from 2020 – and more than 60,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide. NHTSA raises awareness of the dangers to pedestrians and provides tips to keep pedestrians safe. 

8 Walking Safety Tips 

• Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals. 
• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. 
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible. 
• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right. 
• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross. 
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots. 
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment. 
• Embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation – get up, get out and get moving. 

8 Safety Tips for Drivers 

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. 
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather. 
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk. 
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too. 
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see. 
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. 
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present. 
• Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians. 

Tips provided by NHTSA