Message to motorists: Break safety belt, cell phone laws? Be prepared for consequences

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron want to make two things perfectly clear to base drivers: buckle up and don't talk on cell phones while driving. Failure to comply with either or both of these laws will result in fines or disciplinary actions. 

"Security Force members are on the lookout every day for people who aren't wearing their safety belts or who are talking on their cell phones and violators will be pulled over," said Tech. Sgt. Charlie Humphrey, 66 SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of police services. "Our priority is to provide a safe and secure environment for the men and women of Hanscom." 

All Hanscom motorists and passengers are required to wear safety belts. Civilians cited for not wearing a safety belt are issued a Defense Department Form 1805, United States District Court Violation Notice, and a $25 fine in addition to a $25 court fee. Military members are counseled by their supervisors and receive a Defense Department Form 1408, Armed Forces Traffic Ticket. 

Both civilian and military members also get four points added to their base driving record. The accumulation of 12 points within a one-year period or 18 points within a 24-month period will result in suspension of base driving privileges. 

Despite the consequences, some base drivers still break the law. The two most recent Safety Belt checks were held during June and July. During June, 66 SFS patrol personnel cited four drivers for not wearing their safety belts; during July, zero were cited. 

"There's no doubt seatbelts save lives, but too often this message gets forgotten when people get into their vehicles and drive off without buckling up," said Galen Williams, ESC Safety Office director. 

Every 12 minutes, someone dies in a motor vehicle accident. A crash occurs every five seconds, while crash-related injuries occur every 10 seconds, states the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Web site at www.osha.gov

Safety belts should be worn even for short drives and on roads with low speed limits. 

"Most people think that seatbelts don't save lives during low speed collisions. They are wrong," said Mike Trudeau, ESC Safety Office. "Studies show that being involved in a car wreck at 25 miles per hour, which is the highest speed limit on base, exerts the same force on the body as falling from the roof of a three-story building directly on your head. So not only is it the law, but it's just plain healthy to buckle up." 

Although it appears base drivers are getting better statistically with wearing safety belts, three vehicle operators were warned about operating a vehicle while talking on cell phones this month, Sergeant Humphrey said. 

"The use of cell phones while driving is nationally rated as the number one driver distraction and can be directly related to the increase in the cause of vehicle accidents," said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Parkin, 66th Security Forces Squadron, noncommissioned officer in charge of plans and programs. 

"A study released in April 2006 by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration found almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention -- high on the list of distractions were cell phone usage and text messaging," Sergeant Humphrey said. 

For fiscal year 2007 there have been 33 minor vehicle accidents on base, distracted driving contributed to some of these accidents, Sergeant Parkin said. 

In accordance with the Department of Defense cell phone policy, the use of cellular or digital telephones while driving a Government Owned Vehicle anywhere, or while driving a Privately Owned Vehicle on Hanscom, is prohibited. Drivers may talk on their cell phones while using "hands-free" technology in a POV only, as long as it does not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle. 

The use of any other portable headphones, earphones or other listening devices while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited at all times. Use of these devices impairs driving and prevents recognition of emergency signals, announcements, other vehicles and human speech. 

Military and base-affiliated civilians may be issued a Defense Department Form 1408, Armed Forces Traffic Ticket, for a violation of this rule. Base-affiliated motorists in violation are assessed three points on their base driving record as identified in the base supplement to Air Force Instruction 31-204, Air Force Traffic Supervision. 

"Everyone should operate their vehicle in a safe and responsible manner, always paying attention to what they are doing to prevent accidents caused by avoidable distractions such as cell phones," Sergeant Humphrey said. "The negative impact caused by accidents and mishaps affect our families, our combat readiness and our ability to successfully complete our mission. Help us ensure a safe Hanscom community -- wear your safety belt and refrain from using your cell phone without hands-free technology while driving." 

(Rhonda Siciliano, 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this article.)