Air Force Safety chief focuses on safety programs Published May 19, 2009 By Jillian Speake 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Air Force's Spring Spike campaign, which runs from March 1 through May 22, is nearing its end and already safety officials are concerned with the increasing number of fatalities due to automotive and motorcycle accidents. As of May 13, the Air Force has lost 13 Airmen during the Spring Spike Campaign; an 86 percent increase from last year. Of those, seven were the result of motorcycle accidents and three were the result of four-wheel vehicle accidents. When safety officials began the Spring Spike campaign three months ago, their primary focus was on educating Airmen about the most common risk factors associated with car and motorcycle mishaps which are fatigue, alcohol, seatbelts and speed. Now, after analyzing the most recent accidents, safety officials are adding defensive driving to their focus. "There are a couple of things that jump out at us when we look through each one of those incidents," said Maj. Gen. Frederick Roggero, Air Force chief of safety and Air Force Safety Center commander, here. "One of them is that in 58 percent of the cases, the individual driving the vehicle, whether it was 2-wheel or 4-wheel, was doing exactly the right thing. Motorcyclists had taken the right training classes, had proper equipment on, and as far as we know to date, alcohol was not a factor. The other driver was at fault. "What that means is that we have to be extra careful on the road as far as our defensive driving goes," the general continued. "Distractions in the car such as texting and cell phones ... you just cannot afford to do that in today's environment out there on the roads as we've seen over the last few weeks in our very own Air Force family." Other safety tips offered by General Roggero include: · Practice defensive driving · Make wearing a seatbelt a top priority · Have front-line supervisers get involved, enforce safety standards and ensure training Although Spring Spike is coming to an end, safety officials are already geared up for the next big safety campaign, Critical Days of Summer, which kicks off May 22 and lasts until Sept. 8. In 2008, the Air Force experienced its safest Critical Days of Summer campaign in history. Unfortunately, the general noted we still had 17 fatalities. Motorcycle fatalities are of particular concern. If we continue at our Spring Spike rate, we will lose 10 Airmen by the end of the summer, which is double our average over the previous three years. Looking at the statistics of summer accidents over time, it is clear why safety officials will continue to focus their efforts on motor vehicle safety, alcohol safety and water safety during this year's Critical Days of Summer. Seventy-four percent of all fatalities since 2003 were the result of vehicle accidents, 20 percent of all fatalities were alcohol-related and 72 percent of sports and recreations fatalities were drowning mishaps. One of the newest tools the safety center just rolled out is the Air Force Cultural Awareness Safety Survey, which the major commands are currently pushing to the base level commanders to encourage their Airmen to participate. There are two surveys, one for motorcyclists and one for four-wheel vehicle drivers. The surveys are web-based, short, easy to use and anonymous. The effect of the survey is two-fold for those in the Air Force that participate, according to the commander of the Air Force Safety Center. "First, this is going to give commanders and supervisors a really good indication of what the culture of driving is for their folks in their units," General Roggero said. He said knowing this will help decide where to devote resources and safety education. "The other effect of this is as you go through this survey and take it personally, you're asked these questions and it makes you think about your own driving habits," the general continued. By doing this, General Roggero says it will let them know the areas on which to focus their attention. Aside from the survey, the Air Force is expanding some of its motorcycle courses, particularly the sports bike training course. In June there will be three train-the-trainer courses on sports bikes at Offutt AFB, Neb. Attendees from that course will be able to return to their bases and offer the training to other Air Force members. This year adding to the list of issues safety officials are focusing on, is suicide prevention. Although suicide prevention goes a little beyond the normal safety center issues, General Roggero and his team were asked by the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force to assist the Surgeon General in raising awareness of the issue and getting the word out to Air Force members on what they can do to help prevent suicide. "I am very concerned about the rise in suicide rates in the Air Force," the general said. "Our suicide rates are approaching levels that we haven't seen since 2004 and since 1996 before that. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a strong Wingman culture where Airmen are looking out for each other and the stresses they are facing." Studies show there are typically three causal factors to suicides; a failed relationship, an investigation of some type or financial stress. "Bottom line is if you know somebody who is experiencing any one of those issues, have the courage -- and I mean that sincerely because it's so easy to just let it go by -- have the courage to talk to that person and perhaps offer a bit of an intervention," the general said. "Being a good Wingman means addressing the issue and not walking past it." In the upcoming months, the safety center team will continue to develop and offer programs which focus on awareness and education to help Airmen protect and preserve combat capability through mishap prevention. It's the responsibility of those Airmen; however, to use the programs and tools offered to lower their potential for becoming a mishap victim.