Driving Safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tori Schultz
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE Fla. --  Summer time is here! It's an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities and spend time with family and friends. However, while enjoying the summer season everyone should practice good risk management and situational awareness.

When planning for a day that includes traveling, safety should be a consideration for everyone involved.

Drinking and driving while operating a motor vehicle, to include motorcycles, can put not only yourself, but others around you at risk. Criminal, financial and administrative consequences, such as loss of driving privileges on base, are potential penalties.
In this day and age, distracted driving has taken on a new meaning with advancements in technology.

Death or serious injury can be a result from operating a phone while driving. Calling, texting, or using a global positioning system adds cognitive distractions to the brain. Intentionally schedule calls for a time when you will not be driving and plan your work-day in advance to avoid making official calls while driving. If a ringing phone is too tempting, get in the habit of silencing your phone before you start to drive. Other types of distractions include eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, and adjusting a radio.

Road signs are posted everywhere you go to increase traffic and pedestrian safety.
Speed limit signs are posted to designate the maximum speed in certain areas.

Following the speed limit is important because it increases both traffic and pedestrian safety. It is especially important for motorcycle riders, as speeding is involved in 84 percent of motorcycle accidents. Driving above the posted limit increases the potential risk for accidents.

Simply following the rules and using risk management can decrease accidents and improve safety. Summer is a great time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories. Utilizing simple safety tips can help keep everyone safe and out of harm's way.