A Specialist assigned to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky died in a PMV-4 mishap 24 November 2021 in Whites Creek, Tennessee near Nashville, at 0300 local. A group of Soldiers were traveling back to Ft. Campbell in a single vehicle when the driver lost control of the vehicle, while negotiating a sharp turn, and struck a rock wall. It is unknown who notified 911. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the fatal Soldier’s position within the vehicle, speed, the Soldiers use of a seat belt, as well as alcohol or drugs as contributing factors, are also unknown at this time. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for the local law enforcement to release their final report.
Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the sixth PMV-4 fatality of FY22.
Stay Alert – Avoid DistractionsDistractions are everywhere today and becoming more and more difficult to avoid. Remember, your eyes and ears are your best tools for keeping safe. Stay alert and watch out.
•Put down your phone. Smartphones and handheld electronic devices are a daily part of life, but they take your eyes off the road and distract your attention.
•Don’t wear headphones. Your ears will tell you a lot about what is happening around you – be sure to use them.
1. Avoid distractions while operating a vehicle.
2. Your focus should be on the task of driving safely.
3. Pay attention to your surroundings especially if you are unfamiliar with the area in which you are driving.
4. Focus as far to your front as possible using peripheral vision to scan for obstacles.
5. Maintain the posted speed limit.
6. Always wear your seat belt and ensure your passengers do the same.
How to be a better passenger•Share the responsibilities - make yourself useful, whether you offer to operate the satellite navigation or act as another set of eyes for the driver – can help avoid any accidents that would have happened due to distraction or driver fatigue. Keeping watch for any diversions and reading road signs will also help the driver to focus on the task of driving.
•Banish backseat driving - Keeping a watchful eye for things the driver might miss is helpful; criticizing every move the driver makes could be harmful. If the driver gets frustrated or annoyed, the likelihood is they will pay less attention to the road, which could lead to an easily avoidable accident.
Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that is 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.
In 2019, almost 74% of speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes between midnight and 3:00 a.m. were alcohol-impaired (blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of .08 g/dL or higher) compared to 43% of non-speeding drivers.