DoD Taking Steps to Prevent Vehicle Deaths in Iraq

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By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2004 — Buckle up your seat belt and don't drive too fast.
This age-old advice applies as much on the streets of Baghdad as on Main Street
USA.

Vehicle accidents — involving both tactical and nontactical vehicles — are the
leading cause of noncombat fatalities in Iraq. According to J.T. Coleman from
the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., most result from excessive speed
and not wearing seat belts.

Since October 2002, motor vehicle accidents killed 49 soldiers and caused 82
soldier injuries in Iraq. Coleman said most accidents occurred in convoys in
forward areas, with speed a factor in more than half of the accidents, and
failure to use seat belts contributing to the severity of injuries in almost
half of all Humvee accidents.

Marine Maj. Nat Fahy, a media officer with Headquarters Marine Corps, said U.S.
military drivers in Iraq face other challenges on the road. Local drivers and
the current Iraqi highway infrastructure aren't always held to the same safety
standards and practices as in the United States, he said, and sometimes Iraqi
drivers take unnecessary risks that threaten U.S. military drivers.

During the first two months of the ground war alone, several Marines also died
in vehicle accidents in Iraq. Among them were Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson
with the 2nd Marine Division's 2nd Light Reconnaissance Battalion; Pfc. Chad
Bales with the 1st Transportation Support Battalion, 1st Force Service Support
Group; Staff Sgt. James Cawley with 2nd Battalion, 23rd Regiment, Marine
Reservist Division; Sgt. Nicholas Hodson with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment;
Maj. Kevin Nave with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Regiment; and
Lance Cpl. William W. White with the 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine
Division.

Statistics were not yet available since the Marine Corps began sending troop
rotations back to Iraq in March.

In a policy letter sent to the field in February, Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo S.
Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in Iraq, called the loss of lives and
equipment due to traffic accidents "unacceptable" and said they've cut into
combat fighting capabilities.

Sanchez directed combat leaders to conduct risk assessments to identify and
assess hazards, then put controls into place to minimize them. "The decision
may be to change, alter or cancel the mission," he said.

Seat belt wear is mandatory, Sanchez said, emphasizing that no one has the
authority to waive the requirement. In addition, all soldiers and Defense
Department civilians are required to wear Kevlar helmets with the chinstrap
secured while operating or riding in vehicles while conducting operations, on
or off post. All troops must also wear fragmentation protective vests while in
vehicles off post.

Coleman said some soldiers have complained that they can't wear their seat
belts because they simply don't fit over full battle gear, including flak vest.
In response, the Army is fielding longer seat belts for vehicles in or bound
for Southwest Asia, he said, and Army engineers are developing a five-point
harness system similar to that used in some military aircraft.

But defense officials aren't buying the argument that soldiers shouldn't use
seat belts because they want to be able to get out of their vehicles as quickly
as possible if necessary.

"There have been no documented cases in which troops have been injured as a
result of being unable to respond to hostile action because they were
restrained by seat belts," said Sanchez in his policy letter. "However, there
are many documented cases of injuries and fatalities from not wearing seat
belts."

In his policy letter, Sanchez called on convoy commanders to conduct a safety
briefing that addresses weapon status and rules of engagement, the route of
travel, known hazards, breakdown procedures, how to call for help in an
emergency, emergency medical procedures, convoy speed and spacing, as well as
post-accident and lost vehicle procedures.

Sanchez's directive supports Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's challenge,
issued last May to DoD's military and civilian leaders and rank and file, to
cut mishaps and accident rates by 50 percent within the next two years.

The services are taking the Rumsfeld challenge seriously. The Army's new safety
campaign, with its "Be Safe" slogan, aims to emphasize safety servicewide. As
part of the plan, the U.S. Army Safety Center released a new "Making Safety
Personal" video, in which a retired Mississippi state patrolman discusses the
personal impact of unsafe driving, relating experiences from some of the 184
fatal accidents he investigated.

Safeguarding against accidents is "about not becoming complacent," Sgt. Maj. of
the Army Ken Preston said shortly after coming on board as the Army's top
enlisted soldier. "It's ensuring soldiers out there follow procedures
established in policies, regulations, operating manuals."

Fahy said vehicle safety remains a top priority in the Marine Corps as well,
especially during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He called on Marine drivers to be
"more vigilant" and "take extra precautions" while operating vehicles in Iraq.

[kruser79]

I'm interested in knowing if there is a breakdown of accidents per type of unit. Mainly because of the propensity of more accidents when engaged in an unfamiliar operations. If there is something the mounted units know how to do, it's convoy. I'm not saying they're better, or that they are following regs and not involved in accidents, but I'd be interested in knowing if this has any bearing on it at all.

[sfga6970]

Originally Posted by kruser79

I'm interested in knowing if there is a breakdown of accidents per type of unit. Mainly because of the propensity of more accidents when engaged in an unfamiliar operations. If there is something the mounted units know how to do, it's convoy. I'm not saying they're better, or that they are following regs and not involved in accidents, but I'd be interested in knowing if this has any bearing on it at all.

Excellent point. Even mounted units, tankers for example, might not have much experience with smaller wheeled vehicles if they are dismounted from their armor for patrols.