SAN ANTONIO - The Air Force has lost 15 members in four-wheel private motor vehicle accidents during the Critical Days of Summer since 2010, underscoring the importance of safe driving habits.
“Any time you take your mind or eyes off the task at hand, or take your hands off the wheel, you are irresponsible and increase your chances of being in an accident,” Ron Kirby, JBSA-Lackland ground safety manager, said.
Poor decision making is a “major cause” of vehicle accidents, Kirby said.
Examples of poor decision making include operating a cellphone to make a call or text, driving after consuming alcohol, speeding, not paying attention to road and weather conditions and driving while fatigued, he said.
Other examples are aggressive and reckless driving, running red lights and stop signs, and making unsafe lane changes and improper turns, Marvin Joyce, 502nd Air Base Wing safety and occupational health specialist, said. Not using seatbelts puts drivers and passengers more at risk of injury or death in the event of an accident.
Using a cellphone or smartphone is an example of distracted driving, which Joyce called “a dangerous epidemic” on America’s roads.
“In 2011 alone, more than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes,” he said.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2011, 10 percent of fatal crashes and 17 percent of injury crashes were distracted-affected, Kirby said.
Using a cellphone isn’t the only example of distracted driving, Joyce said. Others are eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system and watching a video.
“The three types of distracted driving are manual, visual and cognitive,” he said. “Text messaging is by far the most alarming distraction because it requires manual, visual and cognitive attention from the driver.”
Joyce said alcohol continues to be a factor in a large number of accidents.
“In 2011, there were 32,367 fatalities, and 9,878, or 38 percent, were alcohol-related,” he said. “Texas led the nation in vehicle fatalities with 2,998; 1,450 were alcohol-related.”
There are many ways drivers can keep themselves and their passengers out of harm’s way on the road, safety officials said.
“One way is to drive within the posted speed limit and adjust according to road and weather conditions,” Kirby said. “Another way is to always drive defensively and keep a safe distance – the two-second rule – between you and the vehicle in front of you.”
Courtesy plays an important role in safe driving, Joyce said. Examples are giving pedestrians the right-of-way in crosswalks, making room for bicycles and not engaging in dangerous behaviors such as tailgating, passing on shoulders and playing the stereo so loud it distracts other drivers.
Seatbelt usage is another important component of safe driving.
“Even if you take all the necessary safety measures, you can still be in an accident because of another unsafe driver, and the most important way you can keep you and your passengers safe is to always wear your seatbelts,” Kirby said. “Seatbelts save lives, so wear it every time for every trip. Remember that a majority of vehicle accidents occur within 20 miles of the operator’s home.”
Joyce offered another recommendation in regard to private motor vehicle safety that is especially pertinent during CDOS.
“During hot weather, heat build-up in a closed or nearly closed car can occur quickly and intensely,” he said. “Children and pets can die from heat stroke in a matter of minutes when left in a closed car. Never leave anyone in a parked car during periods of high summer heat.”
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2013 12:24 |
| Story ID: | 108782 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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