SUBJ: MEMORIAL DAY TRAFFIC SAFETY A. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47 (SERIES), CHAPTER 10, MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY 1. MEMORIAL DAY IS A TIME FOR RENEWED FOCUS ON THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR COUNTRY. IT CARRIES AN APPRECIATION, DEEP ADMIRATION, AND BOUNDLESS GRATITUDE FOR OUR NATIONS FALLEN HEROES. MEMORIAL DAY IS ALSO A TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR COAST GUARD MEMBERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTORCYCLE MISHAPS. 2. IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, 2 CG MEMBERS HAVE DIED, AND 32 OFF-DUTY MOTOR VEHICLE RELATED MISHAPS OCCURRED BETWEEN 15 MAY AND 01 JUNE. DON'T BECOME A STATISTIC, BE PROACTIVE AND USE THE SAME OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT (ORM) DURING OFF-DUTY ACTIVITIES AS YOU DO ON-DUTY. FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW FOR TRAVEL SAFETY: A. CHECK OUT YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE YOU GET ON THE ROAD. B. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, HELMET AND OTHER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE). C. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING OUT OF THE AREA, TAKE TEN MINUTES TO COMPLETE A TRAVEL RISK PLANNING SYSTEM (TRIPS) ASSESSMENT AT: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/SAFETY/CG1132/MOTORVEHICLESAFETY.ASP D. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DRINK, DON'T DRIVE. ALWAYS HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER. E. GET A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP BEFORE YOU LEAVE, TAKE A REST BREAK EVERY COUPLE OF HOURS, PLAN AHEAD AND MAKE ROOM RESERVATIONS IF YOUR JOURNEY IS TOO LONG FOR A ONE DAY DRIVE. F. DRIVE DEFENSIVELY, WATCH OUT FOR THE "OTHER GUY." 3. BE ADVISED THE NATIONAL TWO-WEEK CLICK IT OR TICKET MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN HAS BEGUN AND ENDS 31 MAY 2009. THOUSANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION WILL BE ACTIVELY ENFORCING STATE SEAT BELT LAWS. THE GOAL IS TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE TO BUCKLE UP TO PREVENT INJURIES AND FATALITIES, NOT TO ISSUE TICKETS. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN SEAT BELT USE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON CLICK IT OR TICKET CAN BE OBTAINED FROM HTTP://WWW.BUCKLEUPAMERICA.ORG. 4. SEAT BELT USE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) STATISTICS CONFIRM THAT YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVING A FRONTAL MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH INCREASES 50 PERCENT JUST BY BUCKLING YOUR SEAT BELT. IN OCTOBER 2007, A COAST GUARD MEMBER LOST HIS LIFE IN AN OTHERWISE SURVIVABLE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH AS A DIRECT RESULT OF NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. ADOPT OUR GUARDIAN ETHOS INTO YOUR EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND ENSURE YOU, YOUR PASSENGERS, AND YOUR FELLOW COASTIES ALWAYS USE A SEAT BELT. 5. THE 2009 ANNUAL COAST GUARD SEAT BELT SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE THAT SEAT BELT USE ENTERING AND LEAVING COAST GUARD INSTALLATIONS AVERAGES 95.6 PERCENT, SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM 96.7 PERCENT DURING THE 2008 SURVEY. 95.6 PERCENT OF VEHICLES SURVEYED HAD CHILD PASSENGERS PROPERLY SECURED, DOWN FROM 100 PERCENT IN 2008. THIS DECLINE IN SEAT BELT USE, PARTICULARLY ENTERING OUR INSTALLATIONS WHERE SEAT BELT USE IS MANDATORY, IS TROUBLING. SEAT BELT USE ON COAST GUARD INSTALLATIONS IS EXPECTED TO BE 100 PERCENT, AND UNIT COMMANDERS SHOULD ACTIVELY ENFORCE USE. THE SURVEY ALSO INDICATED THAT MOTORCYCLE PPE USE DECREASED FROM 97.8 PERCENT IN 2008 TO 94.3 PERCENT IN 2009. BICYCLE HELMET USE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED FROM 94.7 PERCENT IN 2008 TO 85.4 PERCENT IN 2009. THIS OVERALL DECLINE IN PPE USE IS A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARDS GENERAL ORDER, ISSUED IN ALCOAST 506/07, ORDERING ALL ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL TO WEAR AND USE PROPER PPE. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE TO ENSURE ALL MEMBERS ARE BRIEFED ON THE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARDS GENERAL ORDER AND RECEIVE A COPY OF THE ORDER. 6. EVERY UNIT COMMANDER SHOULD ENSURE THAT PERSONNEL ARE PROPERLY PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. AN ORM REVIEW SHOULD BE A PART OF THE LEAVE AND SPECIAL LIBERTY APPROVAL PROCESS. COMMAND LEADERSHIP AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY ARE KEY TO ENSURING WE ALL ENJOY A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND RETURN SAFELY TO CARRY ON THE WORK OF PROTECTING AND DEFENDING THE PRECIOUS FREEDOMS SO SELFLESSLY EARNED BY THOSE WE HONOR. 7. MEMBERS AND COMMANDS CAN ACCESS COAST GUARD MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTORCYCLE REQUIREMENTS IN REF A, CHAPTER 10. MORE INFORMATION ON TRAINING AND LINKS TO KEY MOTOR VEHICLE AND MOTORCYCLE WEB SITES CAN BE FOUND AT THE COMDT (CG-1132) INTERNET SITE: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG1/CG113/CG1132/DEFAULT.ASP. 8. POCS: COMDT (CG-1132): MR. MICHAEL SMITH 202-475-5205 OR MICHAEL.L.SMITH4(AT)USCG.MIL, OR HEALTH, SAFETY, WORK-LIFE SUPPORT (HSWL SUPACT): MR. JOHN KUMMERS 757-628-4423 OR JOHN.J.KUMMERS(AT) USCG.MIL, OR DCC RICK VIEL 510-637-1251 OR RICK.J.VIEL(AT)USCG.MIL. 9. BE A GUARDIAN, BE SAFE, PLAN AHEAD, THINK BEFORE YOU ACT, AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY AND FELLOW COASTIES. 10. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE, SENDS. 11. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.