A Staff Sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve, Trenton, Ohio, was involved in a PMV-4 mishap 25 February 2022 in Kingston, Ohio, at 2356 local. The Soldier was traveling from home to the unit lodging-in-kind location, when he struck the rear of a semi-truck stopped in the road, following another accident. He sustained injuries to his lower extremities and head and was hospitalized until he died 16 May. It’s currently unknown if speed or alcohol were factors. The mishap is still under investigation by local law enforcement.
Since 2017, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 15th PMV-4 fatality of FY22.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly 30 percent of all automobile accidents in the United States are rear-end collisions. That’s nearly one-third of all accidents!
Leave more space between you and the car in front of you.
This is the number one way to avoid rear-end collisions! The more space you leave, the more time you have to react to sudden braking and the more room you have to stop your vehicle before it hits the one in front of you.
Check your mirrors often.
You should already be checking your mirrors every six seconds or so, as well as every time you stop or brake. Pay attention when you stop; is the vehicle behind you stopping as well? If not, you may be able to give them extra time and space to do so.
Focus on driving and don’t be distracted.
Distracted driving is another top cause of collisions of all kinds. Keep your eyes on the road and you’re more likely to notice the brakes in front of you, the car cutting you off or the driver who doesn’t see you.
Brake slowly.
When approaching a stop sign, red light or another obstacle, begin braking early (without riding the brakes) and stop slowly so the person behind you can see that you’re slowing down and has time to react.
Make sure your brake lights work.
Brake lights are a safety feature and it’s important that they’re working properly. Without them, the car behind you cannot tell (easily) that you’re braking, and you are more likely to get rear-ended.
Pay attention to the driving conditions.
Yes, you need to brake when the car in front of you brakes. But if the roads are icy, it’s deer season, children are playing nearby, there are bicyclists on the road, construction is happening, etc., it’s important to leave extra room, adjust your driving habits and be ready for sudden braking.
Keep your view clear.
No, you cannot see everything that the driver in front of you can see. But, you can leave enough space between you and the large vehicle in front of you to see around it, or, you can pass so that your view is clearer.