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Smart driving choices make a world of difference

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) --  Every day, all Airmen who drive or ride -- officer, enlisted and civilian, too include their dependent family members -- are faced with making a choice and living with the decisions they make.

As fiscal 2009 came to a close Sept. 30, 47 Airmen across the Air Force were killed in motor vehicles, with 20 of those fatalities occurring on motorcycles.

Aviano Air Base was not exempt from the list of bases mourning the loss of an Airman as several hundred family members, friends and co-workers, in a private ceremony here, celebrated the life of Senior Airman Ingles Dosreis, who died following a three-car accident here in August, along with two Italians, leaving behind his wife and son.

"We take driving safety very seriously and have programs in-place to help educate our base drivers about how to read the local road signs to the various types of hazards associated with driving or riding on Italian roadways," said Lt. Col. Kenny Smith, the 31st Fighter Wing chief of safety. "One loss of life due to a motor vehicle or motorcycle operator accident is one too many."

Air Force Instruction 91-207, the Air Force Traffic Safety Program, outlines safety requirements for operators and passengers of private motor vehicles. Rules state Airmen should wear their seatbelts, obey posted speed limits, and avoid distractions while driving, and that every Airman is responsible for understanding and applying them both on- and off-duty.

It's important for everyone to pause and think about the possibilities ... before making a choice to put themselves or others at risk, Colonel Smith said. He said the decisions people make can have a lasting impact on more than just the person who decides to commit an unsafe act.

Whether people are driving or riding to fast for the road conditions or faster than the posted speed limit, are driving while intoxicated or fatigued, are paying attention to everything else but the task at hand and getting from point A to B safely, he said people need to understand that their actions can impact innocent bystanders, their family, friends and co-workers, and the ability for the wing and Air Force to conduct an operation.

At Aviano AB, there are many examples within the 31st FW where Airmen at the lowest and highest levels look out for fellow wingmen, including their Airmen Against Drunk Driving program. Another example of Airmen leading by example are the men and women of the 31st Operations Support Squadron, who on Sept. 28 celebrated the unit's 2,000th day since an Airman in their unit was caught driving under the influence, as well as the unit's 325th day since someone had a major motor vehicle accident.

"These achievements are significant for our unit," said Lt. Col. Sean DeWitt, the 31st OSS commander. "It's about Airmen taking care of Airmen and being responsible guests in this nation and keeping the roads safe. Everyone is extremely committed, but it's our frontline supervisors who are the key as they are engaged and reinforce good decision making," he said. "I'd like to give credit to the previous squadron commanders who made this a priority."

In a recent "Letter to Airmen", the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force said more than 60 percent of the fatalities this past year involved some type of reckless behavior, such as failure to wear mandatory personal protective equipment like helmets or seatbelts, excessive speed, use of alcohol or extreme driving.

"Your full participation and support is imperative as we move forward to reduce injuries, save lives, and preserve our most important asset -- our Airmen," they said in their letter.

However unfortunate or tragic an Airman's death may be, when we lose someone to a motor vehicle accident, it's their families, friends and coworkers who are left behind to pick up the pieces and fill the void where the Airman once was.

Life is full of choices. Which one will you make?