BULLETPROOF & RECKLESS

Mobility Forum, Sep/Oct 2005 by Wilson, Elaine

Stupid Human Tricks are major contributors to Top 10 causes of AF fatal mishaps

John Phillips, Chief of Air Force Ground Safety, has seen some strange safety misnaps during his 20+ year safety career. Some bordered on the bizarre. Others were just mildly surprising.

"Unfortunately a lot of our people are dying because of stupid things," said Mr. Phillips. "Often they think they're bulletproof, or maybe they just don't care. Many fatal accidents are just people making poor personal risk management decisions."

The military had a rash of fatal mishaps in fiscal 2004. Concerned, the focus shifted to promoting education and safety campaigns. The effort paid off. After a string of "bad years," to date, the Air Force is seeing an end to the losing streak with a 50 percent cut in fatalities.

Mr. Phillips attributes the turn-around to leadership, from generals to front-line supervisors.

"Commanders are getting creative, coming up with programs to raise awareness," he said. "And supervisors are getting more involved with their troops' lives. You wouldn't let your 18-year-old daughter or son take off for the weekend without discussing safety. Why wouldn't you at least extend some of that courtesy to your troops?"

Safety officials hope the 101 Critical Days of Summer campaign - from Memorial Day through Labor Day - will re-emphasize the safety messages and prevention tips. Some so obvious they border on "no-brainers."

"Sometimes a reminder or a 'hey, that's not a good idea' is all it takes to save a life," he said.

TOP 10 Causes of Fatal Mishaps in the Air Force:

1. Speeding or driving too fast for conditions. While many people seem to ease off the gas on base, good habits seem to fly out the window when they drive out the gate. Before the base even hits the rearview mirror, people speed up and "disengage common sense. "

Mr. Phillips recalls a story about two Airmen who had a bad run-in with a trailer - literally. The Airmen backed a competition drag racer out of a 20-foot trailer to perform maintenance. One of the Airman climbed in and, without a helmet or seatbelt, revved the engine. He hit the starter and released it.

"The racer took off like a rocket," said Herm Dean, Air Force Chief of Ground Safety Operations. It hit the trailer, lifting it off the ground. When car and trailer eventually slid to a halt, the "driver" hit the trailer headfirst. That was his last joy ride.

2. Failure to comply with traffic laws (other than speeding). Tailgating is a big culprit in many mishaps. The closer you get, the less opportunity you have to avoid an accident. He recommends a two-second rule if conditions are good, and four-second rule if towing a trailer or if conditions are poor. Drivers should also avoid speeding up to make a yellow light.

"If you're speeding through an intersection at 50 to 60 mph and get hit, someone isn't walking away," Mr. Phillips said.

3. Driving beyond your skill level. Motorcycle drivers have a tough time with this one, particularly in the spring or early summer when "O down " is the catch phrase. They spring for high performance, bikes way out of their league. "Young drivers start out with a Honda 250, drive them for a while and then bump up to a Kawasaki 1000, " said Mr. Dean. "The curbs and corners get them. They don't have the ability to match the bike's performance." The Air Force is working to decrease these kinds of accidents, making motorcycle safety courses mandatory for every Airman who drives one.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen John Jumper's motorcycle mentor program is also catching on. This pairs experienced and inexperienced riders before they head out on the highway.

4. Drinking and driving under the influence. This is as close to a "no-brainer" as you can get. If you drink, don't drive -find a designated driver. Seems simple, but when drinking, people's judgment seems to decrease at the same rate as their brain cells.

One Airman at a northern tier base got drunk, confrontational and stormed angrily out of a party. His friends blew it off, and figured he'd eventually be back. That was the last time they saw him. He passed out in the woods and froze to death. At another base, an Airman took off drunk, rode his motorcycle down Route 66 and decided to pop a wheelie at 100 mph. He also died.

"This kind of thing happens over and over," Mr. Phillips said. "Don't let someone walk away when they're upset. Take care of one another."

5. Driving fatigued. With limited time and funds, some Airmen forego a pricey ticket and take marathon drives to see family or friends. One couple drove 400 miles, visited friends for a day and a half, then drove back home. Arriving at 10 p.m., they packed until 1 a.m., slept two hours, and drove another 200 miles so the wife could catch a plane. The husband made it a mile from the airport on his way home before he fell asleep, drove through a stop sign and killed himself.

Mr. Phillips said, "People fall asleep, just for a moment, and run off the shoulder." Sometimes they wake up abruptly and overcorrect left or right and get in trouble. Supervisors can help Airmen work out a pre-departure plan that allows for rest and the flexibility to call if they get behind.