Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

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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A 31-year-old Sergeant assigned to Vicenza, Italy, died in a PMV-4 mishap 14 August 2023 in Cittadella, Italy, at 0146 local. The Soldier was reportedly involved in a head-on collision with a local national’s vehicle. Italian law enforcement responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The local national was treated for two broken legs. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the Soldier’s use of a seat belt, speed or the involvement of alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for Italian authorities to release their final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 30th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.
 

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A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Grafenwohr, Germany, died in a PMV-4 mishap 12 August 2023 in Grafenwohr, at 1920 local. The Soldier was traveling back from Nuremberg to Grafenwohr when he struck a tree and sustained fatal injuries. 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 awaiting polizei to release the final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 29th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.
 

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A 23-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in a PMV-4 mishap 21 July 2023 in Stockbridge, Georgia, at 1900 local. While traveling on I-75 near Atlanta, the Soldier and her family were involved in a vehicle accident that resulted in her death. The circumstances of the mishap are currently unknown, to include if other vehicles were involved or whether the occupants were wearing seat belts. It is also unknown if speed, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. The division safety will provide updates as more information is provided.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 28th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

A 27-year-old Private First Class assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, died in a PMV-4 mishap 12 July 2023 at 2020 local. While on leave in Tennessee, the Soldier was a passenger in his brother’s vehicle when another vehicle failed to yield the right-of-way at a stop sign. As a result, his vehicle was struck and the Soldier sustained fatal injuries. Reportedly, alcohol was not involved. The unit/safety points of contact are awaiting more information to confirm the mishap specifics.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 25th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Defining Failure to Yield – When a driver, bicyclist or pedestrian has the right-of-way, it simply means they have the right to proceed before another vehicle. We encounter situations every day in which we yield to vehicles with the right-of-way at four-way stops, intersections, stop signs, left turn lanes, crosswalks, yield signs, traffic circles and more. Failure to yield is when a driver does not allow a vehicle with the right-of-way to proceed, and this sometimes results in an accident.

If a driver fails to yield to you when you have the right-of-way, you should do everything in your power to avoid a collision. You can prevent failure to yield accidents and exercise proper caution by knowing the traffic laws, staying alert to your surroundings and practicing courteous driving even when others make a mistake.

Ways to prevent failure-to-yield accidents – The best way to avoid causing or falling victim to a failure-to-yield accident is to know the laws and do your part to prevent them. You can stay out of harm’s way by:
 

• Slowing down – this gives you more time to react to someone failing to yield. Reduce your speed when approaching an intersection, crosswalk or yield sign.


• Check the intersection before entering – even when you have the right-of-way, look before you enter because you can’t always trust other drivers to yield to you.


• Drive defensively – be aware of the cars in front of you, behind you, to the sides and even the vehicles in the immediate vicinity on other roads. If you are keeping an eye on other drivers, you can spot the ones that aren’t driving safely and actively avoid them.


• Don’t run red or yellow lights – when approaching an intersection, always slow down and cover your brake; avoid being tempted to accelerate and run through an intersection when the light turns yellow.


• Allow the intersection to clear before entering when the light turns green – many times, vehicles will be turning left still or running through a yellow light, so don’t be tempted to jackrabbit out into the intersection as soon as you get a green light.


• Eliminate all distractions while driving – leave your cellphone alone, turn down the music and stay focused on your driving responsibilities.

Driving is a very dangerous and complex activity. When you are behind the wheel, you are responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of everybody else. Stay alert and focused on this very necessary but often taken for granted skill. It could be what keeps you or someone else alive.

Tips from Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG)
 

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