A Specialist assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, died in a PMV-4 mishap 1 Oct 2020, at 0230 local. While traveling south on the highway, the Soldier lost control of his vehicle, veered off of the east shoulder, and traveled an additional 260 feet before landing in a ditch approximately 80 feet east of the shoulder. Soldiers from the unit discovered the mishap scene two days later when the Soldier failed to report for duty and the unit leadership contacted 911. Hawaii State Police and ambulatory services arrived and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. Upon discovery, the Soldier was not fastened into his seat, the driver side seat belt was found in the buckled position, and appeared to be fastened underneath the Soldier at the time of the collision. Investigation of the nearby scene and of the Soldier’s vehicle showed no evidence that suggested his vehicle was struck prior to exiting the road and landing in the ditch. The Soldier had a blood alcohol content of .28 which was three times over the legal limit (.08). It was reported that the Soldier was driving at excessive speeds while highly intoxicated.
Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 23rd PMV-4 fatality of FY21.
In 2018, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities. Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.
Speeding is more than just breaking the law. The consequences are far-ranging:
- Greater potential for loss of vehicle control;
- Reduced effectiveness of occupant protection equipment;
- Increased stopping distance after the driver perceives a danger;
- Increased degree of crash severity leading to more severe injuries;
- Economic implications of a speed-related crash; and
- Increased fuel consumption/cost.
Of the 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts. 55% of those killed driving at night in 2019 were unrestrained.
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)
Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that's one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, these deaths reached the lowest percentage since 1982 when NHTSA started reporting alcohol data — but still 10,142 people lost their lives. These deaths were all preventable.
Always make good decisions and plan ahead. Here are some solutions to avoid drunk driving:
- Always choose a non-drinking designated driver — every time you go out.
- If you go out alone, do not drink alcohol. Order a non-alcoholic beverage such as a soft drink or water.
- Never feel pressured to drink alcohol. If you do plan on drinking, do so responsibly. Eat plenty of food and drink water.
- If you've been drinking, call a taxi or car-sharing service for a ride, like Uber or Lyft.
- Never get in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Protect others by taking their keys if they attempt to drive after consuming alcohol. They may be mad at you, but the alternative is much worse.
Driving a vehicle while impaired is a dangerous crime. Tough enforcement of drunk-driving laws has been a major factor in reducing drunk-driving deaths since the 1980s. Charges range from misdemeanors to felony offenses, and penalties for impaired driving can include driver’s license revocation, fines, and jail time. It’s also extremely expensive. A first-time offense can cost the driver upwards of $10,000 in fines and legal fees.