A Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 11 November 2021 in Raeford, North Carolina, at 2330 local. Initial reports indicate the Soldier was operating his motorcycle when he left the roadway and was thrown off, suffering a fatal injury. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, it is unknown who discovered the body and notified 911. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, the Soldier’s use of personal protective equipment, and the involvement of alcohol or drugs, are also unknown. The Soldier completed all required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to release its final report.
Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 25 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the second off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY22.
Motorcycle Safety TipsNight Riding: Quite often you’ll have to ride at night. After all, it is dark 50 percent of the time. Dusk is the worst time, when people’s eyes are adjusting from daylight to headlights. Be especially careful just after sunset. The following tips might help:
-Slow down when riding at night, especially on any sort of winding road.
-Use your own headlights, and those of other traffic, to keep an eye on the road surface. It is more difficult at night to see the patch of sand or something that fell out of a pickup.
-Distance between you and the vehicle in front becomes even more important at night. Give yourself room to react.
-Wear a clear face shield without scratches. A scratched shield can create light refraction that might confuse you; two headlights can look like four, and you don’t know who is coming from where.
-One of your biggest hazards at night may be a “who” coming from a few hours of drinking.
-Be especially alert for drivers and vehicles doing odd things, like weaving in and out of traffic, and give them lots of room.