TOP STORY >> Critical days of summer’s motor vehicle week

By Airman 1st Class Regina Agoha
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs





As the critical days of summer continue, week three will bring education to the base on private motor vehicle safety and the dangers that come due to aggressive drivers, speeders, distractions and drivers who text on the road, which is one of the biggest distractions.

With technology evolving at rapid speeds, practically everything can be done from a person’s phone. Pool parties and road trips can be planned, outfits can be bought and a conversation between four friends can be held all from the palm of someone’s hand. But, as exciting as summer is, as good as one’s favorite song sounds blasting to the max, as anxious as a person can get waiting for that picture message to appear or as urgent as one feels it is to read or respond to a text, these are the top distractions that cause minor accidents to become major fatalities while driving. Little Rock Air Force Base has a zero-tolerance policy for texting while driving, talking on the phone while driving and speeding.

According to the Little Rock AFB safety office, texting is the most alarming and dangerous form of a distraction because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver.

Rodney Silvas, a 19th Security Forces Squadron reports analyst, said if a person is caught texting while driving on base, they get four points added on their on-base-driving record and their first sergeant is notified. If a person is speeding they can get three to six points, and if a person is caught texting and speeding, they get an additional four points to go along with the four from texting.

Silvas also said if a person gets 12 points total within one year, 18 points total within a two-year timespan or is caught driving 20 miles over the speed limit, they are suspended from driving on base for 120 days or more at the commander’s discretion. A driver on base will also be held accountable for anyone in their automobile without a seatbelt on. “The driver will get four points on their record,” said Silvas.

Military members with civilian spouses who drive on base, said Silvas, should educate their partners on the rules and regulations for driving on a military installation because in some cases, even if the military member is not in the car and the spouse gets pulled over, the first sergeant of that military member can be notified of the disciplinary act.

There will be a new Air Force Instruction coming out pertaining to vehicle regulations, said Silvas. There have been many changes and adjustments regarding point amounts and consequences to certain actions.

According to the National Safety Council website, over 13,000 lives are lost each year from speeding. Speed-related crashes cost society over $40 billion annually. Every 24 seconds there is a crash involving drivers using cell phones and texting.

“Driving on base is a privilege not a requirement,” said Silvas. “Make sure you and those accompanying you in an automobile are following directions at all times.”

Private motor vehicle week is among the many strategies the Air Force uses to try to prevent automobile accidents and injuries through education.