A 20-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-2 mishap in Clarksville, Tennessee, at local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he ran off the road and stuck a sign pole. He was reportedly riding at a high rate of speed. The use of personal protective equipment and completion of Motorcycle Safety Foundation training are currently unknown.
Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 33rd PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and equal to the number of fatalities for this same time last year.
Safety tip
If you ride a motorcycle, you already know how much fun riding can be. You understand the exhilaration of cruising the open road and the challenge of controlling a motorcycle. But motorcycling also can be dangerous. Per vehicle miles traveled in 2022, motorcyclists were about 22 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and were four times more likely to be injured. Safe motorcycling takes balance, coordination and good judgment.
Riding a motorcycle is among the riskier modes of transportation. Not only does operating a motorcycle require more physical skill and strength than driving a passenger vehicle, but motorcycles lack a protective structure, offering the rider virtually no protection in a crash. Furthermore, the motorcycle’s smaller size relative to most motor vehicles may make it less visible to drivers and more vulnerable in a collision with larger, heavier passenger vehicles and trucks.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers a traffic crash to be speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if an investigating police officer indicated that racing, driving too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor in the crash. Thirty-five percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2022 were speeding, compared to 22 percent for passenger car drivers, 15 percent for light-truck drivers and 6 percent for large-truck drivers.
Ride Responsibly
Experienced riders know local traffic laws — and they don't take risks. Obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits and lane markings; ride with the flow of traffic and leave plenty of room between your bike and other vehicles; and always check behind you and signal before you change lanes. Remember to ride defensively. The majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes generally are caused when other drivers simply didn't see the motorcyclist. Proceed cautiously at intersections and yield to pedestrians and other vehicles as appropriate. You can increase your visibility by applying reflective materials to your motorcycle and by keeping your motorcycle's headlights on at all times, even using high beams during the day.
Tips provide by NHTSA.