Alive at 25

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Richard Caudill
  • 354th Fighter Wing Safety Office
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  What is the number one killer in the Air Force? Is it combat operations in theater? This may come as a surprise, but the majority of our Airmen are killed on our nation's highways.

Automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for Airmen. Last year, the Air Force lost 47 Airmen in vehicle mishaps. The tragedy is that each and every mishap was preventable.

Mishaps are not confined to a certain age group, but there is a trend showing that younger Airmen are at a higher risk of being killed in vehicle accidents.

What actions should be taken to achieve the goal of ensuring that our Airmen, especially those between ages 18 through 26 who are at high risk, are taken care of?

Alive at 25 is a new defensive driver course designed to be an early intervention program to help prevent traffic violations, collisions and fatalities. The focus is to help young drivers adopt safer driving practices, take responsibility for their behavior in various driving situations, and to be aware of typical driving hazards.

This course is a highly interactive four hour program that hones the drivers' abilities through skill practices and on-the-spot defensive driving techniques.

General Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, has made his stance on vehicle mishaps clear when he said, "We cannot tolerate reckless operation of motor vehicles by Air Force personnel. Reckless operation may jeopardize the benefits members and beneficiaries receive following a mishap. Supervisors will ensure military and civilian personnel understand the implications of poor decisions and the importance of compliance."

Drivers under the age of 25 are four times more likely to be involved in a serious motor vehicle accident than older drivers, but that does not preclude older drivers from still being injured or killed when operating a vehicle.

We must all do our part when it comes to reducing vehicle mishaps. Make responsible choices when you are operating a vehicle. The choices you make not only affect you, they affect everyone around you. This includes other vehicle operators on the road, as well as your Air Force brothers and sisters.

Please contact the base safety office for more information on motor vehicle safety and other helpful safety programs.