STAFF SGT. ISAIAH MATUZAK
B Company, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Hunter Army Airfield
Savannah, Georgia

The roadway is one of the most dangerous places a person can be, yet most of us treat driving as a mindless daily routine. Across the nation, thousands of lives are shattered in an instant on public roads, transforming ordinary commutes into sudden tragedies. While the Army’s smaller numbers shield it from the sheer volume of these civilian crashes, our Soldiers are far from immune. The vast majority of these fatal wrecks do not stem from mechanical failure or poor weather, but from the silent, preventable epidemic of distracted driving — a hazard that Soldiers have the power to conquer through disciplined awareness and proper training.

On a suffocating summer afternoon in Savannah, Georgia, the thermometer read 98 degrees in the shade, with dead calm air and few clouds. It seemed like the perfect day for a motorcycle ride to enjoy some wind. I decided to take my wife into town for ice cream, a classic summer treat. We climbed onto the bike wearing our personal protective equipment (PPE), which included long pants, jackets (despite our reluctance due to the heat), ankle boots and gloves. Naturally, we saved our helmets for the final moment before departure, as the stifling heat could quickly overcome us during those few idle minutes before the wind provided relief.

We left our neighborhood and merged onto the main road that led to our destination. We had traveled this flat, straight, two-lane road hundreds of times, but we didn’t know this ride would be anything but routine. About 10 minutes into the ride, a vehicle pulled out behind us, quickly closed the gap and began tailgating. I monitored the vehicle in my side mirror and observed the driver consistently focusing downward at what appeared to be a mobile phone. A distracted driver was tailing us.

As our turn approached, I attempted to alert the driver by weaving within my lane. He failed to respond and continued to look down. I then activated my turn signal several hundred yards early to ensure ample space for a safe maneuver. Recognizing the hazard, I scanned for an escape route, but oncoming traffic packed the adjacent lane and the roadside was virtually nonexistent. Running out of options, I forced the bike into the turn faster than I normally would.

I started the tight turn at about 35 mph. Just as I cleared the lane, the screech of brakes echoed behind me. I glanced back to see the tailgating driver swerve into the oncoming lane to avoid rearending another vehicle, prompting oncoming drivers to blast their horns in warning. The distracted driver veered onto the median to avoid a head-on crash before steering back onto the roadway. It was an incredibly close call.

As a Soldier, the Army requires me to complete the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic and Advanced RiderCourseTM, which train me to anticipate hazards constantly. Fortunately, I applied these risk mitigation techniques by wearing proper PPE and remaining vigilant. Without this vital training, I could have easily become another safety statistic posted above the urinals in a men’s restroom. I prefer to avoid that fate.

If you are a rider, keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Prioritize rider education: Completing structured defensive riding courses, such as basic and advanced rider training, is crucial to developing the muscle memory and hazard perception needed to avoid active roadway threats.
• Maintain proactive hazard identification: Consistently monitoring mirrors and tracking trailing vehicles helps riders recognize signs of distracted driving before a critical situation arises.
• Communicate actions early: Activating signals far in advance of a turn gives distracted motorists more time to react, especially when escape options are limited.
• Assess escape routes continuously: Identifying safe buffers and roadside terrain before initiating a maneuver ensures a viable exit path if a trailing vehicle fails to decelerate.
• Commit to full protective gear: Wearing complete safety equipment — including a helmet, jacket, long pants, boots and gloves, even during the warmer-weather months — provides the ultimate line of defense when preventive measures fail.

By applying these risk mitigation techniques on every ride, Soldiers can protect themselves and their passengers from the unpredictable actions of distracted drivers. Safe riding practices ensure that a routine trip for ice cream remains a safe journey rather than a tragic statistic.