Welcome to week three of the 2012 Critical Days of Summer

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Walt Koelln
  • 94th Airlift Wing Safety Office
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  Three Dobbins members have been injured in motorcycle accidents so far this riding season. Sadly, in week one the Air Force lost two Airmen to fatal motorcycle accidents.

Commanders and supervisors, please continue to help the members of the wing safety office educate our members on safe riding, motorcycle training, and proper personal protective equipment. Thanks to those of you who took immediate action to identify Motorcycle Safety Reps and put them in contact with our office. We are striving for 100% of squadrons in compliance.

Please have your MSRs contact Mark Weaver at 678-655-2611 or Ron Durant at 678-655-4434 (Ron Durant) for program instructions and access to the USAF's motorcycle rider tracking tool.

This week's topic is aimed at four-wheeled vehicle drivers. In any given week at Dobbins, the wing safety office staff investigates several incidents, or mishaps. Usually minor fender-benders, but the root cause is almost always the same - inattentive driving.

Fortunately for Dobbins, in our minor fender-bender common incident scenarios, no one gets injured and the damage is light. However, add a little speed, a little rain, a little more traffic, and drivers talking or texting on cell phones, reading magazines, putting on makeup, or other distractions while driving, and that minor fender-bender now has the potential to become a fatal or serious injury accident.

One form of distracted driving is texting. According to the Official US Government Website For Distracted Driving, texting and driving now surpasses drinking and driving as the leading cause of teen accidents and fatalities. In 2010, 3,000 people lost their lives in texting and driving accidents. Multiply that by a factor of ten for serious injury caused by texting and driving.

I just read yesterday of a veteran, and Patriot Guard Rider, who lost his life when a car driven by a 15 year old plowed into his motorcycle. While the article didn't explain the reason for the accident, it stands to reason something likely distracted the teen driver. There are now at least two families who are devastated by a seemingly benign situation. Please slow down and pay attention to your driving to prevent a similar tragedy from happening to you and yours.

Please take a moment to share this information with all Airmen. I hope you are enjoying a fun and safe summer. Take care and be safe.

For more information on motor safety, or safety classes, please call the 94th Airlift Wing Safety Office at 678-655-5051.

Safety - It's Personal.