Critical Days of Summer: Slow down, pay attention Published June 7, 2012 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The 2012 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign purpose has a goal to prevent the tragic loss and injury of Airmen during the summer. Private motor vehicle mishaps are a serious danger to our safety. In the Air Force, reckless behavior includes excessive speed, alcohol use, no seat belt use or extreme maneuvers. Eighty six percent of PMV-4 fatality mishaps as of Sept. 30 last year were attributable to these factors. It is this behavior that continues to be a threat to our Airmen. Speeding According to the National Safety Council website, speed is involved in about one out of three fatal crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is the third leading contributing factor to traffic crashes. But while injuries and fatalities due to other dangerous behaviors, such as driving while impaired and not wearing seatbelts, have been significantly reduced, speeding is still a challenge. Drivers speed because: · They're in a hurry. · They're inattentive to their driving. · They don't take traffic laws seriously or don't think they apply to them. · They don't view their driving behavior as dangerous. · They don't expect to get caught. Speeding results in: · Lives lost - more than 13,000 each year. · Work zone crashes and fatalities - speed was a factor in 27 percent of fatal crashes in construction and maintenance zones in 2005. · Unsafe school zones - compliance with lower speed limits is poor. · Economic costs - speed-related crashes cost society more than $40 billion annually, according to NHTSA. Every minute "gained" by speeding to a destination costs U.S. society more than $76,000. Aggressive Driving What is aggressive driving? Most of us know it when we see it, but NHTSA defines aggressive driving as occurring when "an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property." For more information about aggressive driving, visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Aggressive. Distracted Driving According to the distraction.gov website, distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include texting, using a cell phone or smart phone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, including maps, using a navigation system, watching a video and adjusting music. Every 24 seconds there is a crash involving drivers using cell phones and texting. Distractions can be broken into three main types: Manual: taking your hands off the wheel Visual: taking your eyes off the road Cognitive: taking your mind off driving According to distraction.gov, text messaging it is by far the most alarming distraction because it requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver. For more information on distracted driving, visit: http://www.osha.gov/distracted-driving/index.html http://www.aaafoundation.org/multimedia/distracteddriving.cfm http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/distracted_driving.aspx All-terrain vehicles All-terrain vehicles are a pastime many people enjoy. However, they also present their own risks. The ATV Safety Institute promotes the following rules when operating an ATV: Always wear a DOT-compliant helmet, goggles, long sleeves, long pants, over-the-ankle boots and gloves · Never ride on paved roads except to cross when done safely and permitted by law. ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway · Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs · Never carry a passenger on a single-rider ATV and no more than one passenger on an ATV specifically designed for two people · Ride an ATV that is right for your age · Supervise riders younger than 16; ATVs are not toys · Ride only on designated trails and at a safe speed · Take a hands-on ATV course such as the one at the website below. For more info: http://www.atvsafety.org/ http://www.treadlightly.org/page.php/home/Home.html http://www.atvsafety.gov/ http://www.cpsc.gov/nsn/atv.html