Give the gift of Safety this holiday season Published Nov. 13, 2008 By Safe T. Guru 43rd Airlift Wing Safety Office POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- As we approach the holiday season, I'm reminded again of the tremendous role safety plays in our everyday lives. Hopefully, we all practice safety each and every time we get behind the wheel of a car or jump on our motorcycle. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we find ourselves in situations where our safety is compromised by the other guy not paying attention or perhaps a small distraction that takes our eyes off the road for just a split second. The holidays are especially dangerous times to be on the road. I'm certainly not advocating that we stay off the road, but just as we do anytime we perform our military mission, we must practice good Operational Risk Management before we head out the front door of our home or office. Before you travel this holiday season, take just a few moments to ensure that you're ready from a safety perspective. Two factors are almost always present in non-alcohol related vehicle accident reports: Speed and/or Fatigue. First, always ensure you're properly rested for your journey. Travel during your normal waking hours and ensure you stay well hydrated. Stop and take frequent breaks along the way and avoid medications that make you drowsy. Significant research shows that fatigue hampers your ability to operate a vehicle in much the same way as alcohol. Rolling down the windows, a warm cup of coffee, or turning up the radio are NOT ways to mitigate fatigue. Plan your trips to remain within reasonable standards...don't push it to the very last minute then have to drive all night to get to your destination. A good rule of thumb is plan to travel no more than about 300-350 miles per day, max. That distance is based on your drive being your only activity for the day, so exercise common sense and good judgment for your particular situation. If you plan to work all day, perhaps you should wait until the following day to start your journey. Second, always ensure your vehicle is ready for the journey. Preventative care ahead of your trip can save you time and money while on the road. Improper tire inflation is the number one reason for blow-outs on the highway. Properly inflated tires not only reduce blow-out potential, they increase your fuel economy as well! Things like belts, hoses, fluids, lights, brakes, tire condition, etc. are all items that deserve a good check prior to hitting the road on a long journey. If you're unsure about something, have it checked by a qualified mechanic before you put yourself into a potentially unsafe situation far from home, or anytime for that matter. Third, seatbelts save lives! That statistic is proven over and over every day. Approximately, 115 people die each day in America in automobile crashes. Many of them were not wearing their seatbelt. Recently, a Fort Bragg soldier and two other occupants of her vehicle died in a local car crash. She was travelling at an excessively high rate of speed on a wet roadway, hydroplaned into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle head-on. The force of the collision ripped her car in half, killing two other occupants. She was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other car was in critical condition, but survived thanks to his seatbelt. Don't just click it because it's mandatory for military members, click it every time because it's simply a good idea. You may not be the offender...you may just be the unsuspecting victim as the other guy loses control and tears your car in half. Fourth, allow yourself ample time to get to your destination without having to rush. Traffic is always heaviest around the holidays, no matter where your travels take you. If your trip normally takes you five hours, you can count on a significant increase in travel time around the holidays. Plan on your trip taking longer and enjoy the surprise if you happen to make it sooner than you planned. Speeding on congested roadways only serves to increase your accident potential and your blood pressure when slower cars don't "get out of your way"...so just slow down, set your cruise control at a comparable level to the other traffic and relax in the knowledge that you're getting there more safely than the guy tailgating every car in sight. He may just be the next statistic...hopefully not collecting you in his stupidity. Finally, always remember that your best planned trips may have hiccups along the way. It's always a great idea to have some basic safety gear along for your ride. Things like reflective gear and an operable flashlight are nice to have in the event you have to change a tire after dark. Warm clothing and blankets are essential when the weather is cold and/or icy...you never know when/where you may get stranded. Always have a first-aid kit handy just in case you bump your knuckles with the lug wrench. Never sit in your stranded vehicle on the side of the road. Get everyone out of the vehicle and safely off the roadway, just in case that truck driver a few miles behind you momentarily falls asleep at the wheel. We've all seen those videos of police cars getting hit during routine traffic stops on the interstate...don't take that risk. Always remember to report accidents to your chain of command as soon as you're safe to do so and ensure your unit safety representatives complete the appropriate paperwork with you upon your return. Thnks for taking the time to read these seemingly common sense ways to reduce your risk on the road this holiday season. Remember that we need each of you to effectively execute our mission. Fall Back on Safety, practice good ORM in your travels, avoid drinking then driving, and come back to us in the same condition as you left us! Your 43d Airlift Wing/440th Airlift Wing Safety Team wishes you a healthy, happy, and above all SAFE holiday travel season!