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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 23-107 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-4 mishap 17 September 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 0200 local. Three Soldiers were involved in a single-vehicle rollover. Soldier 1 (passenger) sustained fatal injuries and Soldier 2 (passenger) is currently on life support. The driver of the vehicle was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the Soldiers’ use of seat belts or speed as a contributing factor, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting law enforcement 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 35th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

One person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 13,000 lives lost each year.

By the Numbers

531 - PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES DURING 2021 LABOR DAY WEEKEND

41% - INVOLVED A DRUNK DRIVER

In 2021, two-thirds of drunk-driving crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of .15 g/dL or higher. A BAC of .08 or higher is considered drunk driving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

Have a Plan Whether You're Driving, Riding or Hosting

Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.
  • Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.

  • If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.

  • If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.

  • The Effects of Alcohol on Driving

    Just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.

    BAC - PREDICTABLE EFFECTS ON DRIVING
    .02 - Decline in visual functions, decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time
    .05 - Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations
    .08 - Reduced concentration, short-term memory loss, lack of speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception
    .10 - Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
    .15 - Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing

    It's Illegal Everywhere to Drive Drunk

    A DUI can set you back, on average, $10,000, and there could be a crash — people could get hurt or killed.

    Tips provided by NHTSA

 

 

PLR 23-104 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 25-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-4 mishap 21 August 2023 in Colorado City, Colorado, at 0630 local. The Soldier was driving home from San Antonio, Texas, when his vehicle crossed over the median, overturned and was ejected. The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. It is unknown if speed or alcohol were factors or if the Soldier was wearing a seat belt. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for CSP 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 34th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Drivers are Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, held every year during the first full week of November, is a good time to remember that drowsy driving is impaired driving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days and many more admit to driving when they were sleep deprived.

These startling figures show how prevalent drowsy driving is. What drivers may not realize is how much drowsy driving puts themselves – and others – at risk. In fact, an estimated 6,400 people died annually in crashes involving drowsy driving, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Impact of Drowsiness on Driving

Driving while drowsy is similar to driving under influence of alcohol:
 
  • Drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen the drowsier the driver.

  • Driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% – the U.S. legal limit.

  • You are three times more likely to be in a car crash if you are fatigued.

  • A driver might not even know when he or she is fatigued because signs of fatigue are hard to identify. Some people may also experience micro-sleep – short, involuntary periods of inattention. In the four or five seconds a driver experiences micro-sleep, at highway speed, the vehicle will travel the length of a football field.

Prevalence of Drowsy Driving Crashes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every year about 100,000 police-reported, drowsy-driving crashes result in nearly 800 fatalities and about 50,000 injuries. The real number may be much higher, however, as it is difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy at the time of a crash.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 drowsy-driving crashes occur annually. That's more than three times the police-reported number. The same study found that 109,000 of those drowsy driving crashes resulted in an injury and about 6,400 were fatal. The researchers suggest the prevalence of drowsy-driving fatalities is more than 350% greater than reported.

Beyond the human toll is the economic one. NHTSA estimates fatigue-related crashes resulting in injury or death cost society $109 billion annually, not including property damage.

Interventions for Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving affects everyone, including adolescents and teens, who are not getting enough sleep (according to the CDC, it is recommended that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep each night). That means interventions focusing on this age group can help reduce drowsy driving. One such intervention is for parents to incorporate discussions and rules on drowsy driving while completing their parent-teen driving agreements.

Other ways to reduce drowsy driving include:

Crash avoidance technologies: New and existing safety technologies, such as drowsiness alert and lane-departure warnings, can detect common drowsy driving patterns and warn drivers to stay in their lane or take a break.

University interventions: College students receive less than average sleep, with some estimates at less than six hours a night; education programs aimed at college students may help curb drowsy driving and instill healthier behaviors that can last into adulthood.

Getting more sleep: According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, adults should get seven or more hours of sleep each night.

Medication labels: An article by Consumer Reports found that side-effect warnings are not always clear; new labeling guidelines may help drivers understand when to drive or not drive after taking these medications.

Employers: Workplaces with strong off-the-job safety and health programs can include key information on getting sufficient sleep and refraining from driving drowsy.

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. Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. 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.)

The consequences of not wearing, or improperly wearing a seat belt are clear:
 
  1. Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being totally 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)

  • Tips from NSC and NHTSA

 

 

PLR 23-103 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 25-year-old Specialist assigned to the Army National Guard, Summersville, West Virginia, on Title 10 orders died in a PMV-4 mishap 10 September 2023 in Mount Nebo, West Virginia, at 1500 local. The Soldier was returning home following drill weekend when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming vehicle. When emergency medical services arrived, the Soldier was unresponsive. He was transported to Summersville Regional Medical Center, where he died. Sleep deprivation, alcohol or drugs are not considered factors at this time. The unit/safety points of contact are awaiting the official police report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 33rd PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

 

 

PLR 23-099 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 22-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 6 September 2023 in Cookeville, Tennessee, at 0031 local. While on post-deployment leave, the Soldier reportedly was involved in a fatal vehicle accident. The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the Soldier’s use of a seat belt, speed or alcohol as a contributing factor, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for THP 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 32nd PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.
 

 

PLR 23-095 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 20-year-old Specialist assigned to Destin, Florida, died in a PMV-4 mishap 27 August 2023 in Ponce de Leon, Florida, at 1741 local. The Soldier was traveling west on the interstate when his vehicle began to hydroplane, left the roadway and struck a tree. The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. The Soldier was wearing his seat belt and alcohol was not involved. Speed is suspected to be a contributing factor. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for HCSO 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 31st PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip
Speeding is a factor in nearly 10,000 fatal crashes every year in the United States. And speeding is easily preventable. But despite this clear danger we can easily avoid, drivers continue to speed and drive well over the speed limit every day, causing serious accidents and fatalities.

As a driver, what can you do about speeding? The first step is understanding just how dangerous speeding is: Your crash risk increases incrementally for every mile per hour over the speed limit.

Speeding is dangerously deadly, but we don’t always realize we’re doing it. You may get distracted or simply caught up in the flow of traffic before you realize that you’re speeding. Follow these tips to avoid speeding and become a safer driver.

Use cruise control: Using cruise control can save you effort and energy while maintaining a more consistent safe speed. Cruise control keeps your vehicle at the speed you set. While it’s not useful for surface streets or traffic, cruise control can be invaluable if you’re on a long road trip, especially if you need to watch your speed.

Give yourself time to drive: Speeding often happens when drivers are running late or are in a hurry. It’s not always easy but leaving a few minutes early or at least on time can alleviate your stress and make it easier to avoid feeling like you need to speed to make it on time. Are you already running late? Before you head out, call or send a text message to let them know you’re late so you’ll be more relaxed.

Note speed limits wherever you drive: It’s all too easy to go with what feels comfortable and not worry about what the speed limit sign says. But speed limits are set with safety in mind, factoring safety and road conditions. Make sure you’re paying attention to and following speed limits.

Don’t keep up with speeders: Even if you’re obeying the speed limit, others may not. Resist the temptation to keep up with them and avoid letting them influence your driving habits to get you to go faster. Simply let them go around.

Don’t be intimidated by tailgaters: Some speeders will even ride your tail in an attempt to intimidate other drivers into driving faster. Don’t let this happen. Keep a safe speed and allow speeding tailgaters to go around you or move over to the right lane so they can easily pass you on the left.

Keep an eye out for speeding vehicles: Speeders going faster than you and especially more quickly than the flow of traffic is a dangerous factor on the road. You’ll need to watch out for them and be on high alert for hazards any time you notice a speeding vehicle. It’s best to avoid them and stay out of their way as much as possible.

Be mindful of the music you’re listening to: Hard rock or fast-paced music might encourage you to drive faster than you should. Listening to classical or light music can help you slow down.

Drive a slower car: If you’re driving a performance vehicle, you’re probably predisposed to speeding. But in a slower car, faster speed simply doesn’t come as quickly, making it easier for you to manage your speed.

Stay with the flow of traffic: Generally, traffic flows at a safe rate and it’s best to stay at about the same speed as everyone else. Of course, if everyone else is severely exceeding the speed limit, it’s a good idea to slow down and let them pass.

Always stay aware of the situation: If traffic is slowing down ahead of you, there’s probably a good reason. You should slow down, too, avoiding any hazards up ahead.

Tips provide by defensivedriving.org.
 

 

 

 

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