Risk Management Magazine

It is zero-dark-thirty on a Saturday morning and you’re starting the car to drive to your weekend drill. As you set your coffee in the cupholder, did you realize you were already on duty?

Between growing up in the Northeast and serving in the military for nearly 20 years, I have quite a bit of experience driving in different weather conditions. I thought I knew everything about operating a vehicle during winter. Nothing, however, could prepare me for high-altitude mountain driving.

It was New Year’s Day and I’d spent the previous night celebrating by downing beers with my buddies. Crawling out of the rack about 8 o’clock the following morning, I planned to hit the road for my girlfriend’s house. I’d gotten about seven hours of sleep, but I was still dragging. I washed down a bite to eat with a glass of water and was out the door.