Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 19-year-old Private assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 19 November 2022 at 0330 local. The Soldier was driving on Interstate 20 with two passengers when his vehicle was struck by a pickup truck that was reportedly traveling eastbound in the westbound lane. The Soldier's vehicle was left disabled in the center of the westbound lanes, where it was struck by two semi-trucks with trailers. The Soldier and his two passengers were killed. It is unknown if they were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Alcohol or drugs were not believed to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

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


Wrong-way accidents cause between 300 and 400 roadway fatalities each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). Wrong-way driving is defined as a driver who operates their vehicle in the opposite direction of travel on a freeway or highway and collides with a vehicle traveling in the right direction.

Although wrong-way accidents are rather uncommon, only making up about 3% of all motor vehicle accidents, they are the leading type of motor vehicle accident to result in a fatality. In fact, some 360 deaths in the U.S. each year are due to wrong-way driving accidents. The fatality rate is projected to fall between 12 and 27 percent higher than all other types of collisions, according to The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is why they have been proven to be among the most dangerous.

Wrong-way driving collisions are most often head-on collisions, which do not tend to leave motorists and passengers unscathed. Instead, if the accident does not result in death, the injuries drivers sustain are often extremely severe with long-term residual effects that require surgery and rehabilitation treatment. Common injuries from wrong-way driving collisions include broken bones and other extremity injuries, whiplash, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, chest, abdomen, and rib injuries, brain injuries, as well as paralysis.

WHAT CAUSES WRONG WAY ACCIDENTS?
Driver error is the most frequent cause of wrong-way accidents, and most of these incidents are due to drivers entering a highway exit ramp, more so than entrance ramps. The reasons for such severe mistakes vary, but the most common causes of wrong-way accidents are:

•Drivers under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medications
•Distracted driving
•Drivers unfamiliar with the roadways in that area
•Poorly marked ramps
•Poorly placed signs
•Poor ramp design
•Lack of signs
•Lack of visibility
•Drowsy or tired drivers
•Drivers suffering from mental health problems


Of all the listed reasons causing driver error, the leading cause is intoxication from drugs or alcohol. About 50 to 75 percent of all wrong-way driving incidents involve an intoxicated driver. Not surprisingly, most of these accidents tend to occur on weekends and in the late hours of the night between midnight and 3 a.m.

HOW ENTRANCE RAMP DESIGN CAN CONFUSE DRIVERS
Cloverleaf and partial cloverleaf designs confuse some drivers, especially those not fully alert. In their confusion, drivers end up entering the wrong ramp on the wrong side. This style of ramp causes confusion because entrance and exit ramps are parallel. Confused drivers can easily end up on the wrong side of the median, on the wrong ramp.

Drivers turning left to enter a highway are more likely to enter the wrong ramp compared to drivers turning right to enter. That’s because drivers turning right come to the correct ramp first, before the wrong ramp, so they typically take the correct turn rather than passing it, ending up entering an exit ramp.

Most drivers immediately realize when they are driving the wrong way and turn around or back up. However, many drivers, including sober ones, will not realize until they are officially traveling on the highway amongst other vehicles that are headed straight toward the driver.

HOW TO AVOID WRONG WAY DRIVERS
To avoid wrong-way drivers, you must look beyond the first few cars ahead and scan the entire width of the roadway, not just ahead in your current lane of travel. The further ahead and around you can see, the better prepared you will be since you may be able see the hazard approaching and have time to take evasive action to avoid a collision. However, when drivers are traveling directly at each other on a highway, there is often little a driver can do to avoid the collision since the wrong-way driver is unexpected and the high rate of speed on highways.

There are a few strategies that you can keep in mind while traveling that may save you from being a victim of these terrible tragedies. For example, always travel in the right lane if possible. Traveling in the right lane is the safest bet to avoid an on-coming wrong-way driver. The wrong way driver may be confused and assume the right is the slowest, but in the opposite direction, the wrong-way driver’s right is the left lane, also known as the fast lane.

WRONG-WAY ACCIDENTS & DRIVING ALERT
Another reason to travel to the right is to avoid wrong-way drivers that may be on the wrong side after crossing the center median. The NTSB study found that 7 out of every 9 wrong-way accidents occur in the lane closest to the median.

Reducing the likelihood of any accident requires staying alert, focused and avoiding distractions. Phone use and other distractions take focus away from the road, causing drivers to become less aware of surroundings. Drivers wrapped up in distractions are less prepared to react as quickly as needed to oncoming dangers and may not have time to avoid a crash.

Regardless of how prepared you are, and if you were able to safely pass the wrong-way driver, always pull off the roadway as soon as it is safely possible and call 911 to report the incident. If a wrong-way driving incident is reported, a warning can be sent out which could potentially prevent injuries and save lives.


HOW TO REDUCE WRONG-WAY ACCIDENTS
Wrong-way accidents and the resulting highway deaths receive attention from transportation officials now developing a response. States including Rhode Island and Texas are implementing new innovative ideas and designs in attempt to prevent further wrong-way driving incidents. As of this writing, Massachusetts transportation officials are studying the issue.

Design features available to reduce wrong-way accidents include:
•Flashing “wrong-way” signs in high-risk areas
•“Wrong-way” or arrows painted onto the pavement
•Concrete structures or spikes that prevent wrong-way vehicles from entering
•More wrong-way warning signs on streets and ramps
•Surveillance and sensor detection that recognizes wrong-way vehicles
•Better lighting in high-risk areas
•Demolishing cloverleaf patterns and creating more space between ramps on future designs

The sensory and surveillance detection systems warn drivers that they are traveling in the wrong direction. They also alert police if the driver fails to turn around. Drivers on the threatened roadway can also be alerted to the danger with electronic highway signs warning of the wrong-way driver.

DO ATTEMPTS TO STOP WRONG-WAY DRIVERS WORK?
The new technology has achieved some level of success. Within one year after Rhode Island installed the new technology, as well as signs, wrong-way driving incidents dropped by 30 percent. Encouraged by those Department of Transportation findings, transportation officials nationwide hope that this approach can be used elsewhere.

 

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A 21-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-4 mishap 13 November 2022 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, at 2245 local. The Soldier was driving westbound with three civilian passengers when they were involved in a head-on collision. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) responded to the scene. The Soldier, one of his civilian passengers, and the driver of the other vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. The two other civilian occupants were taken to two different local hospitals. Upon arrival, one of the civilians was pronounced dead. The other civilian is in stable condition. Speed and alcohol use are not suspected. The use of seat belts is currently unknown. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for NCSHP 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 fourth PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

 

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A Sergeant assigned to Torii Station, Japan, died in a PMV-2 mishap 4 November 2022 in Okinawa, Japan. The Soldier was traveling northbound when a civilian vehicle making a right-hand turn struck his motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Soldier was wearing the required personal protective equipment and completed the mandatory Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. The Okinawa Prefectural Police Department responded to the scene. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for the local authorities to release their final report.

Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the fourth PMV-2 fatality of FY23.


Safety Measures During the Ride

1. Stay Conscious of Your Surroundings on the Road
It’s important to scan your surroundings while on the road, as it enables you to identify blind spots, other motorists who are nearby, and the road ahead. It also offers you enough time to react to any danger, which you probably couldn’t have seen if you were not vigilant.

2. Practice Proper Positioning on the Road
The correct posture for riding a motorcycle is when you sit with your back upright and the shoulders slightly tucked back and relaxed. Such a posture prevents you from launching and discomforting your neck.

Also, you should ensure you always stick to the right lane and avoid encroaching in the lanes meant for other motorists. You should also ensure there is enough distance between you and the motorist ahead, such that you don’t follow them too closely.

3. Stay in Gear, Always!
It’s vital to shift correctly and stay within a comfortable gear range when riding a motorcycle. In that case, don’t release the bike’s clutch lever suddenly. Instead, do it smoothly as its speed increases.

Generally, the more comfortable you are at using the gears, the safer you become.

4. Maintain Safety Speeds
Riding at a safe speed comes with many benefits. First, it offers you ample time to react when you face a potential hazard. Secondly, it allows you to maneuver through the traffic more calmly, which improves your safety.

5. Ride According to Your Ability and Skills
While it’s tempting to try some moves with a motorcycle when a beginner, it often leads to personal injuries. So, try to avoid tricks that could cause you harm.
 

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a PMV-2 mishap 3 November 2022 in Killeen, Texas, at 2130 local. The Soldier was on PCS leave when his motorcycle collided with an SUV that pulled out in front of him. The collision ejected the Soldier from the motorcycle and over the SUV. The Killeen Police Department (KPD) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. He was wearing the mandatory personal protective equipment. It is currently unknown if speed or alcohol were contributing factors. The Soldier’s completion of the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training has not been verified. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for KPD to release its final report.

Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the third PMV-2 fatality of FY23.


Riding a motorcycle is incredibly fun, but it can also be quite dangerous. Unlike passenger car drivers, motorcycle riders have nothing to protect them but helmets and safety gear, so when accidents occur, they tend to be serious.

While getting on a motorcycle and hitting the open road will always come with a little risk since there’s no way to control how other riders and drivers behave, there are ways motorcyclists can reduce their chances of getting into accidents. Read on to find some safety tips that will help.

1. Ride Defensively
The most common type of motorcycle crash is a left-turn accident. While not all of them can be avoided, defensive riding can make a difference.

Pay attention to what drivers are doing. If there’s a car waiting at an intersection to turn, assume the driver won’t notice an oncoming motorcycle unless he or she makes eye contact. If there’s a gap in traffic or a driver pulling onto the road who looks a little too anxious to make a turn, those are also signs that it’s time to slow down, get in the other lane if possible, and be prepared to take evasive maneuvers.

2. Stay Out of Blind Spots
Lane-switching accidents are almost as common as left-turn crashes. They occur primarily when riders are in drivers’ blind spots when cars switch lanes. As with avoiding left-turn crashes, it’s important to drive defensively and pay attention to what drivers are doing since they are less likely to see motorcycles, even when they are in clear view. Look for signs that a driver is about to make a lane change, such as:
•Using turn signals
•Checking mirrors
•Swiveling the head to check blind spots
•Turning the wheels

It’s also very important to stay out of blind spots by speeding up or slowing down. The best way for a rider to tell if he or she is in a driver’s blind spot is to look at the mirrors and check to see if the driver’s face is visible. If a rider can make eye contact with a driver, the driver should also be able to see the motorcycle.

3. Follow the Four R’s
Head-on collisions are less common than the two types of accidents described above, but they’re also more likely to be fatal. The National Safety Council sets forth guidelines for motorcyclists about how to avoid head-on collisions. They recommend following the four R’s. Motorcyclists should always:
•Read the road
•Drive on the Right side
•Reduce speed
•Ride off the road when an accident seems imminent

Reading the road refers to paying attention to what other drivers are doing. Driving on the right side is obvious and doing so makes it easier to merge onto the shoulder to the right to avoid head-on collisions. Reducing speed means slowing down as soon as a car starts swerving or a driver stops paying attention, which is important because even a 10-mph difference can be lifesaving.

Tips provided by Ada Martin for Poler Stuff
 

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A 20-year-old Specialist assigned to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, died in a GMV mishap 22 October 2022 in Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG), Pennsylvania, at 1315 local. Four Soldiers in two M1120 Load Handling System (LHS) vehicles were traveling on the tank trail to pick up ammunition dunnage at a range. During the movement, the trailing LHS vehicle rear-ended the first vehicle. The first vehicle's flat rack entered and crushed the driver’s side of the second LHS vehicle’s cab. The driver of the second LHS was unresponsive and did not have a pulse when the other Soldiers in the convoy extracted her from the vehicle and performed immediate CPR. FTIG emergency services were notified of the accident and responded to the scene, where they pronounced the Soldier dead. The other three Soldiers were evacuated to Hershey Medical Center for precautionary reasons and evaluation.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of nine Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the first GMV fatality of FY23 and the same number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

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