Summer safety in full swing

27 Nov 2007 | Pfc. Bernadette L. Ainsworth U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific

The summer season is here again, and with the warmer weather and longer days come a need to be more aware of ways to prevent needless accidents.

Historically, summer is when a number of Marines, Sailors and family members lose their lives in preventable, tragic mishaps.  Of the 64 non-operational fatalities of fiscal year 2003, 26 occurred between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, according to All Marine Message 029/04.

To lower the number of fatalities, the Marine Corps kicked off its annual Summer Safety Campaign with one of three campaigns it’s sponsoring this summer: the “Click it or Ticket” national seat belt enforcement initiative.

According to ALMAR 029/04, on-base seat belt use is typically above 96 percent, yet off-base motor vehicle accident statistics show that 43 percent of the traffic fatalities over the past 10 years were not wearing a seat belt.

Since October 2003, the Marine Corps has already had 22 traffic crashes claiming the lives of 24 Marines.  At least seven of those Marines were not wearing seat belts.

Arrive Alive, a Marine Corps sponsored program that begins June 24, is a program to ensure that all sergeants and below who are of the leagal drinking age have an option for getting home alive and well, according 1st Sgt. Bonnie L. Skinner, Headquarters and Service Company first sergeant.

Each bright yellow card has a serial number so the company will know who is using their card.  Also on the card is the phone number to a cab company, the unit name, the Marine the card is issued to and the arrive safe number.

“The cab company has a 24 hour-dispatch number, and Marines can use the cards anytime they feel they can’t get behind the wheel,” said Skinner.

Headquarters and Service Company will keep track of how many times each Marine uses his card.
“We don’t want Marines spending their last cash on liquor knowing they can get a free ride home; we want Marines to use this legitimately,” said Skinner.

The last national enforcement initiative before the end of summer is the “You drink & drive, you lose,” program, a national enforcement and education campaign to warn motorists about the dangers of drinking and driving.

This program will close out the Summer Safety Campaign over the Labor Day weekend.  Over the past five years, 30 percent of the traffic fatalities in our Corps involved the use of alcohol, according to ALMAR 029/04.

Through these programs, “Click it or ticket,” Arrive Alive and “You drink & drive, you lose,” the Marine Corps is making this a summer of safety by sponsoring these nationwide campaigns.