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Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

About Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

PLRs are intended to be used as an engagement tool for leaders to discuss the hazards and trends impacting Soldier safety and readiness. A PLR contains only basic information, as the investigation is ongoing, but provides sufficient background to allow leaders an opportunity to communicate risk at the Soldier level.

 

PLR 23-038 – PMV-Pedestrian Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Pedestrian

A 23-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a PMV-Pedestrian mishap in Copperas Cove, Texas, at local. The Soldier was walking home northbound when he was struck by a southbound vehicle.

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

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

Walk on a sidewalk or path. If neither is available, walk facing traffic and as far from cars as possible.

Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections whenever possible; this is where drivers expect pedestrians. If neither is an option, locate a well-lit area, wait for a gap in traffic that allows you enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic as you cross.

Be alert. Walkers wearing headphones or using a cellphone might not hear a car horn or could miss a traffic signal at a crosswalk.

Never assume drivers see you; they could be distracted or impaired. It’s best to make eye contact with drivers to make sure you are seen. Make yourself visible by wearing brightly colored clothing during the day. At night, wear reflective materials or use a flashlight.

 

 

PLR 23-037 - Aviation Mishap Claims Nine Soldier's Lives

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Aviation

Four Warrant Officers and five enlisted Soldiers assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in an aviation mishap 29 March 2023 in Cadiz, Kentucky, at approximately 2140 local. While conducting night training in a military operations area/special use airspace, two HH-60 aircraft collided midair. The collision resulted in nine fatalities and the total loss of both aircraft. A Centralized Accident Investigation team from U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading the investigation.

Since FY18, the Army has had an average of seven Class A aviation flight mishaps and lost an average of five Soldiers per year to on-duty aviation mishaps. This was the fourth Class A aviation mishap of FY23 and one above the number of similar mishaps during the same time last year.

 

 

PLR 23-036 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2

A 38-year-old Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina died in a PMV-2 mishap 25 March 2023 in Sanford, North Carolina, at 2200 local. The Soldier reportedly was riding his motorcycle when he collided with a civilian vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the mishap sequence, Soldier’s use of personal protective equipment, speed, and the involvement of alcohol as a contributing factor are currently unknown. The Soldier completed the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training.

Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 12th PMV-2 fatality of FY23.

 

 

PLR 23-035 – PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A 31-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia died in a PMV-2 mishap 23 March 2023 in Columbus, Georgia, at 2230 local. The Soldier was on his way home when a civilian SUV failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn and striking the Soldier. The Soldier was transported to the local hospital and pronounced dead upon arrival. The Soldier was wearing the required personal protective equipment and completed the mandatory Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. Speed and the involvement of alcohol were not contributing factors. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for the Columbus Police Department 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 eleventh PMV-2 fatality of FY23.

“Do’s” for riding a motorcycle at night

1) Make your motorcycle more visible
2) Wear reflective motorcycle gear
3) Wear a bright colored helmet
4) Add reflective tape to your motorcycle
5) Make your presence heard with a loud exhaust
6) Add more lights to your motorcycle at night
7) Make sure your motorcycle’s headlights are clean
8) Increase your vision
9) Keep your visor clean
10) Always ride slowly and with caution

“Don’ts” for riding a motorcycle at night

1) Do not drive into the glare of oncoming traffic
2) Do not ride outside the range of your headlights
3) Do not use dark-tinted visor
4) Do not stop at empty stretches of roads

 

 

PLR 23-034 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2
A 21-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died 15 March 2023 in a PMV-2 mishap, at 2220 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle back to the barracks, when he was struck from the side by a car. He was transported to the local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The specific circumstances of the mishap sequence are unknown. The Soldier had completed all motorcycle training courses and was wearing personal protective equipment. It is also unknown if speed or alcohol was a factor. The local police report is pending.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the tenth PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

1. Lights and action:

Dirt and bugs caked on the headlight can materially reduce how much light you have out front, so making sure all your bike’s lights are working, are properly aimed and have clean, intact lenses is critical.

Carry spare bulbs and the correct lighting circuit fuses in your pack—finding a place to get those items after hours can be tough, particularly out on rural rides. Consider upgrading the bulb in older bike lighting systems. Halogens, other bulb or even LED options may be available to upgrade from older style sealed beam or incandescent units and throw more light, depending on the make and year of your bike.

Check brake and turn signal lights to assure they are working properly, as well. Keeping the bike’s side-facing reflectors intact and visible is also important to being safe after dark. Reflective tape can be added to improve the visibility of the bike to other motorists.

2. See and be seen:

High visibility and light-colored riding gear can make the rider more visible to other riders and drivers. In low and fading light or foggy conditions, fluorescent colors seem to glow by absorbing short wavelength light not visible to the human eye and re-radiating it as long-wavelength light the human eye can see.

Jackets made with fluorescent colors in combination with retroreflective materials in logos, stripes or piping can make a rider highly visible at long range in another vehicle’s headlights. While you’re at it, don’t forget to gear up — boots, stout riding pants, gloves, jacket, helmet, eye protection, and maybe a little of the CE approved impact protection here and there, too.

3. Be visionary:

Those dark wrap-around sunglasses or that slick, but dark reflective helmet shield that work great at high noon can be potential contributors to disaster late in the day or after dark. Have a back-up plan for maximizing your vision with clear shatterproof riding glasses and/or clear helmet shield for the long ride home.

A photochromatic shield may also be an option. If you ride with a windshield and look through it instead of over it, keep that windshield clean, as well. Even a moderate sized bug splat on the windshield creates a view obstruction covering square feet of area down the road.

Any roadside hazard — like a deer, coyote, raccoon or dog poised to kiss your front tire — can be difficult to see in broad daylight; seeing them after dark requires giving yourself every advantage you can. Lots of wildlife becomes more active after dark, so seeing those critters at the roadside in time can make all the difference.

4. Lose speed, not control:

Highway speed driving with anything after dark is riskier than it is in the daylight hours, but on a motorcycle high speed alone can erase the positive safety effects of everything else you may do. The answer is simple; keep your travel speed down on the straights and even more so in the corners.

Stretch your following distances with other vehicles — the other drivers can’t see as well, either, so unexpected things looming in the headlights are more likely to cause them to panic stop. On roads that are unfamiliar this becomes a critical factor; an innocent decreasing radius corner that is simply fun to carve in daylight can fool you past the fog line and into the trees after dark.

5. Absolute sobriety:

Driving any motor vehicle with booze or any other intoxicants on board is inviting disaster; riding a motorcycle at night under those circumstances defies common sense. Yet, motorcycle crash data from here in Wisconsin proves it happens.

 

 

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