Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 25-year-old Specialist assigned to U.S. Army Reserve Command died in an automobile mishap 12 July 2025 near Madera, California, at 0330 local. The Soldier was on his way to battle assembly when he collided head-on with a vehicle, resulting in a post-crash fire. Additional information is currently unavailable. 

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to automobile mishaps. This mishap was the 25th automobile fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

Whatever the source — lack of or poor-quality sleep, long hours of work or driving, shift work, stress or sleep disorders — fatigue affects your ability to drive safely. Driver fatigue is a major workplace safety risk.

• As many as one in five fatal crashes in the general population involve driver fatigue.
• Companies use a fatigue risk management system to promote alertness among workers, identify fatigue-prone tasks and lessen fatigue and its potential consequences.
• After 17 consecutive hours awake, impairment is equivalent to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .05. After 24 hours awake, impairment is equivalent to a BAC of .10.
• A survey of the U.S. workforce found that 37% of workers got less than the recommended minimum of seven hours of sleep.
• Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each day.

Causes of fatigue

• Being awake for many consecutive hours
• Not getting enough sleep over multiple days
• Time of day (Your body has a sleep/wake cycle that tells you when to be alert and when it’s time to sleep. The urge to sleep is most intense in the early morning hours.)
• Monotonous tasks or long periods of inactivity
• Health factors (e.g., sleep disorders or medications that cause drowsiness)

Effects of fatigue on driving

• Nodding off
• Reacting more slowly to changing road conditions, other drivers or pedestrians
• Making poor decisions
• Drifting from your lane
• Experiencing tunnel vision (when you lose sense of what's going on in the periphery)
• Experiencing microsleeps (brief sleep episodes lasting from a fraction of a second up to 30 seconds)
• Forgetting the last few miles driven

What you can do

• Plan your off-duty activities to allow enough time for adequate sleep.
• Get enough sleep (seven to nine hours each day). If fatigue persists after adequate sleep, get screened for health problems that may be affecting your sleep, such as sleep apnea.
• Create a sleeping environment that helps you sleep well — a dark, quiet, cool room with no electronics.
• If you feel fatigued while driving, pull over, drink a cup of coffee and take a 15- to 30-minute nap before continuing. The effects are only temporary. The only "cure" for fatigue is sleep.
• Watch yourself and your peers for fatigue-related symptoms.
• Report instances of fatigue in yourself and others to your direct supervisor, who can help determine the safest course of action.

A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a motorcycle mishap 12 July 2025 in Wendell, North Carolina, at 1930 local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died. The Soldier reportedly completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse in September and was wearing a helmet at the time of the mishap. Additional information is currently unavailable.  

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to motorcycle mishaps. This mishap was the 25th motorcycle fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

How Can Motorcyclists Stay Safe on the Road?

• Gear Up for Safety. Proper protective gear serves as your first line of defense. A DOT-compliant helmet is essential, but don’t stop there. Wear abrasion-resistant jackets, pants, gloves and over-the-ankle boots.
• Increase Your Visibility. Visibility plays a key role in motorcycle safety. Wear bright, reflective clothing, especially at night. Add reflective tape to your helmet and bike. Use your headlights, even during the day. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends you position yourself in the lane where other drivers are most likely to see you.
• Master Defensive Driving Techniques. Assume other drivers don’t see you and always plan an escape route. Keep a safe following distance — at least four seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. This gives you time to react to sudden changes. Constantly scan the road ahead, looking for potential hazards like debris, potholes or distracted drivers.
• Maintain Focus and Sobriety. Distracted riding poses as much danger as distracted driving. Never use your phone while riding. Avoid riding when you’re tired, angry or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Keep Your Bike in Top Shape. Regular maintenance isn’t just about keeping your bike running smoothly — it’s about keeping you alive. Check your tires, brakes, lights and fluids before every ride. Pay attention to any unusual noises or handling issues.

How Can Automobile Drivers Protect Motorcyclists?

• Check Blind Spots Thoroughly. Motorcycles are smaller than cars, making them easy to miss in blind spots. Develop a habit of checking your blind spots before changing lanes or merging.
• Keep a Safe Distance. Provide motorcycles with ample space on the road. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation says a two-second cushion of space in front of you is the minimum for a safe following distance. This extra space creates a safety cushion, allowing both you and the motorcyclist more time to react to sudden changes in traffic or road conditions.
• Use Turn Signals Early. Activate your turn signals well in advance of any lane change or turn. This gives motorcyclists time to anticipate your movements and adjust accordingly.
• Make Smooth Movements. Avoid abrupt lane changes or turns, which can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. Plan your route in advance and execute smooth, predictable movements. If you need to change lanes or turn unexpectedly, take extra time to ensure it’s safe to do so.
• Be Extra Cautious at Intersections. Intersections are high-risk areas for motorcycle-car collisions. When approaching an intersection, look twice for motorcycles before proceeding. Exercise special vigilance when making left turns, as this is a common scenario for motorcycle-car crashes.

Tips provided by Impact Attorneys.com, Society of Automotive Engineers, Motorcycle Safety Foundation and NHTSA

A Specialist assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, died in a motorcycle mishap 12 July 2025 in Florence, Kansas, at 0130 local. The Soldier’s personal protective equipment use, rider training, speed and the involvement of alcohol or drugs are currently unknown. Additional information is unavailable.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to motorcycle mishaps. This mishap was the 24th motorcycle fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

9 Tips for Safe Night Riding

Whether you’re an experienced biker or a beginner, here are some ways to keep yourself safe when it’s dark so you can get more enjoyment out of those night rides.

1. Avoid Looking Directly into Headlights. While it is sometimes unavoidable when coming around blind corners, avoid looking at headlights. To avoid having your vision temporarily impaired, instead focus on lane markings and the road’s edge to maintain a clear view.
2. Avoid Risky Riding Practices. This tip should go without saying, but avoiding risky riding practices at night decreases your chances of an accident. Maintaining the speed limit, practicing defensive riding and anticipating potential road hazards while riding responsibly will help you get to your destination safely.
3. Avoid Tinted Visors. Tinted visors are meant only for daytime riding. When driving at night, ensure you are using a clear visor if you prefer riding with a face-covering rather than an open-faced helmet.
4. Ensure Your Lights are Functioning. Before heading out on a nighttime ride, perform a quick pre-ride checklist to ensure your motorcycle lights are working properly. Check your headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals, if applicable. Some riders also add extra auxiliary lighting to improve visibility, especially those who ride in rural areas or areas with poor lighting. Make sure you know your state’s regulations on colored or indirect lighting so you are still following local and regional riding rules.
5. Refrain from Using Substances. Not only is riding under the influence of substances against the law, it also greatly increases a rider’s chances of injury. Substances impair your judgment, coordination, reaction time and ability to safely operate a motorcycle. You should always make the choice to ride sober, whether you’re riding during the day or at night.
6. Use High-Visibility Clothing and Gear. Dressing in colors that make you visible to motorists when riding at night will greatly decrease the chances of an accident. Choose high-visibility jackets, vests, helmets and other gear that will increase your visibility in low-light conditions.
7. Use Reflective Tape and Decals. In addition to visible clothing, using reflective tape and decals on your motorcycle and gear, like your helmet, will make you visible to motorists while riding at night or in low-light areas. While there are required decals in some states, you can also find fun ones with favorite characters, bands and other interests that will allow you to personalize your bike and gear while also making nighttime riding safer by enhancing your visibility on the road.
8. Maintain a Safe Driving Distance. Maintaining a safe riding distance will increase your reaction time to avoid any sudden obstacles in your path.
9. Leverage Other Vehicle Lights. Other motorists’ lights can be an advantage for you, especially if their headlights and taillights illuminate any road debris. While it is still important to maintain a safe distance, using any extra lighting that shows you what to expect on the road ahead is an added advantage when riding at night.

Tips provided by CycleTrader.com

A Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Drum, New York, died in a motorcycle mishap 12 July 2025 in Macomb, New York, at 1900 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when he lost control while navigating a curve and struck a guardrail. New York State Police responded and attempted lifesaving measures, but the Soldier died from his injuries. Additional information is currently unavailable.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to motorcycle mishaps. This mishap was the 23rd motorcycle fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

A whopping 77% of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents are the result of the rider failing to negotiate a curve. Here are some tips:

1. Think outside the curve, inside the curve, outside the curve. Whenever you approach a sweeping, decelerating or blind curve, always attack it from the yellow line if you are curving right, or from the white line if you are curving left.
2. You must never grab the front brake in a panic when the bike is leaning in a curve.
3. Your wheel speed should always be in direct correlation with your site distance, meaning that if you can only see three seconds ahead, your top speed should be no more than 30 mph. (Two seconds = 20 mph. Five seconds = 50 mph. Eight seconds = 80 mph, etc.) Make sure to throttle/gear down and up accordingly.
4. Learn how to use the rear brake! It is essential when leaning over, or at speeds of 5 mph or below. Often, when leaning over and traveling downhill, you don't want to slow down as much, as you want to get some "speed" out of the motorcycle. This can be done by "chopping" the throttle or by applying a bit of rear brake. The next time you have some free time, go to an empty parking lot and practice riding at, say, 5 mph with your right foot on the rear brake pedal but not applying any pressure — term known as feathering. This is best done with a partner. Have your partner walk at a normal pace slightly in front of the motorcycle as you ride and see if you can keep up. Then do a role reversal. At no time should your partner see the brake light come on.
5. Don't just brake — brake and downshift! When your site distance compresses from six seconds to five seconds, and you begin to brake from 60 mph to 50 mph, you should also downshift from sixth gear to fifth. (Five seconds to four seconds means 50 mph to 40 mph and fifth to fourth gear. Four seconds to three seconds means 40 mph to 30 mph and fourth to third gear, etc.)
6. When you find yourself in a curve, make sure that you also turn your head in the direction you want the motorcycle to go! Don't target fixate.
7. Don't ever stop riding the motorcycle. A motorcycle is capable of leaning over far more than you can imagine. Thus, the proper technique is to push even harder on the handlebar as the curve begins to tighten. This is very counterintuitive for most people, so do yourself a favor and take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse or Advanced RiderCourse if you have not done so.

Tips provided from V-Twin forum

A Sergeant assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, died in a motorcycle mishap 6 July 2025 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at 0240 local. The Soldier was traveling northbound when his motorcycle left the roadway in a left-hand curve and struck a guardrail. Local emergency medical services personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced the Soldier dead. He reportedly was not wearing a helmet at the time of the mishap. Additional information is currently unavailable. 

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to motorcycle mishaps. This mishap was the 22nd motorcycle fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tips

• Motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal traffic crashes. In 2023, there were 6,335 motorcyclists killed — 15% of all traffic fatalities. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data show that this is the highest number of motorcyclists killed since at least 1975.
• Per vehicle miles traveled in 2023, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and were five times more likely to be injured. Safe motorcycling takes balance, coordination and good judgment.
• In states without universal helmet laws, based on known helmet use, 54% of motorcyclists killed in 2022 were not wearing helmets, as compared to 11% in states with universal helmet laws.
• Motorcycle riders killed in traffic crashes at night were almost three times more frequently found to be alcohol-impaired than those killed during the day (42% and 16%) in 2022.

Tips provided by NHTSA