LOCAL

Holloman launches campaign against distracted driving

Tara Melton

Alamogordo Daily News

Col. Houston Cantwell, commander of the 49th Wing, tries to text and drive in the simulator on Wednesday afternoon. The simulator was part of a campaign Holloman Air Force Base launched in an effort to educate military members on the dangers of distracted driving.

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE — Distracted driving is the second leading killer of Airmen and Holloman Air Force Base is combating the issue with a new policy.

April is distracted driving awareness month and Holloman observed it by launching their efforts Wednesday with a driving simulator. In the simulator, drivers navigate their way around a landscape and try to avoid cars pulling out in front of them, a deer running into the road or vehicles suddenly breaking – all with their phone in hand or trying to open a bottle of water.

Using a cell phone is not the only distraction while driving. Other distractions can come in the form of eating, drinking, reading, looking at maps, disruptive passengers, grooming such as applying makeup or shaving, entering GPS information, changing the radio or temperature controls, making lists, daydreaming and looking at collisions or pedestrians.

Airmen tested how quick they could react to a swerving car or deer running into the road, especially when they were distracted by their phone.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, nationally 3,477 people were killed due to distracted driving while 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted driving in 2015.

"Distracted driving is No. 2 killer of military members, No. 1 is motorcycles and No. 3 is speeding," said Dan Salinas, Occupational Safety Specialist at Holloman. "As soon as somebody gets into the vehicle, they automatically go to their cell phone and already they're distracted."

Salinas explained that when an offender is pulled over on Holloman Air Force Base, they will be placed on a list and made to meet with their wing commander. Dependent on the situation, offenders may be sent to a safety course and can lose their driving privileges on base.

Visiting Airmen tested out the simulator while texting, taking selfies and scrolling through their phone. Each crashed fairly quickly because of the distraction.

Col. Houston Cantwell, Commander of the 49th Wing, took a turn in the simulator on Wednesday afternoon. Cantwell tested his ability to text his wife while driving and like all the Airmen who tried it before him, he began swerving.

"Distracted driving is dangerous," Cantwell said. "It's the No. 2 killer of Airmen in our force, which is disturbing because that's something we can control. With a little self-control, we can reduce the No. 2 killer of Airmen and so I'm putting a plea out to all of the Airmen to think about it, make smart decisions and it'll be safer not just for us, but all of those around us."

Cantwell said he wants Airmen to think of all the children walking around on base, especially as this week is spring break.

"It's a very dynamic environment when you're behind the wheel," Cantwell said. "Sometimes we forget that and we get a little comfortable, a little lackadaisical, and we forget that when you're behind the wheel of a 2,000 to 3,000 pound vehicle – that's a weapon. It really does require all of your attention."