Regulations turn speeders into walkers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  "It's a looooong walk!"
 
This sign is posted on Rosamond Boulevard to remind drivers of the consequences of speeding on base. 

Since September, more than 300 military and civilian drivers were cited for speeding on base. 

"Drivers are bringing their highway habits to Edwards," said Maj. Steven Heffington, 95th Security Forces Squadron commander. 

Compared to other military installations, Edwards is a very large base, said Capt. Zaven Saroyan, Air Force Flight Test Center civil law chief. 

"The long roads here tend to give drivers the idea that they have more room to increase their speed as they are traveling," Captain Saroyan said. 

To help control this, Edwards uses a point assessment directed by Air Force Instruction 31-204. Personnel operating motor vehicles on base will be subject to any combination of three moving violation citations such as failure to stop, speeding and failure to yield. Even if the total does not equal 12 points, the penalty may result in a suspension or revocation of driving privileges for up to a one-year period or more. Additionally, serious offenses such as driving under the influence may result in immediate suspension of driving privileges.

According to the regulations, driving on an Air Force installation is a privilege granted by the installation commander, and that privilege can be revoked.

For a military member receiving a traffic violation, the ticket goes directly to the offender's commander. 

"I personally call their commander if I think this individual is a high-risk driver based on their driving history," Major Heffington said. "I have seen letters of counseling, Article 15s and reduction of pay for military members along with the revocation of their driving privileges."

Civilians receive a federal traffic ticket that must be taken to magistrate court on base. 

Whether a person is a civilian or military member, a speeder faces the suspension or revocation of their driving privileges on base, said Lt. Col. Leslie Long, 95th Air Base Wing staff judge advocate. 

"Driving above the speed limit can affect the careers of civilians," Colonel Long said. "Losing driving privileges affects their way to and from work, especially if they are traveling from outside the base. For military, depending on the number of offenses, a speeding ticket could result in an Article 15 and be the nail in the coffin to getting administratively discharged from the military." 

If speeding is involved where people are injured, military personnel may also face court martial charges as well, he said.

Speeding not only affects the driver but also those around them, Colonel Long said. Safety is paramount to senior leadership. 

"Whatever rank you are, there is no excuse for speeding on base," Major Heffington said. "Our roads are not equipped for such speeds like we have been seeing lately. Edwards roads have been surveyed by traffic engineers and safe speeds (have been) determined based on many factors." 

Major Heffington said that Security Forces have been handing out tickets with speeds of 20, 30 and 40 mph above the speed limit. 

Security Forces currently have more than 40 members certified to California State radar standards. 

"Because of deployments and other commitments, we had few personnel certified before," said Major Heffington. "That was the reason we were not giving many tickets. On an average, only 1 or 2 people were certified to run radar; so I think people got used to Security Forces writing fewer tickets. Edwards policy and punishment has not changed. The only thing that has changed is the increased training to our Security Forces members that we plan to continue." 

"There is very little gray area in the speed law, said Major Heffington. "While each patrolman has the authority to use discretion when writing tickets, the reality is that if the speed limit is 55 and you're going 56, you're speeding."

With the increase in tickets being handed out, Colonel Long said that people should not blame Security Forces. 

"Security Forces are doing their job by protecting the safety of each one of us on Edwards," Colonel Long said. 

Speeding on Edwards is not going to be tolerated, Major Heffington said.

"The fact is, speeding is a disregard for others," he said. "In the presence of other vehicles and people, it shows that getting to a certain location a few minutes earlier is more important than the safety of fellow Airmen and coworkers. If you speed, plan on getting caught."