JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Summertime is vacation and travel time for many families and individuals, but those enjoyable trips by car or by plane can turn unpleasant or even deadly.
Statistics from the Air Force Safety Center show the Air Force suffered 70 vehicle-related fatalities in the summer months from 2009-2013, underscoring the urgency of the service’s Summer Safety Campaign.
However, with proper planning and heightened awareness, those journeys can be accident- and incident-free.
“Plan, plan and stick to the plan,” said Travis Kilpack, 502nd Air Base Wing occupational safety manager. “If you are driving, plan for frequent stops. Share driving duties and stick to your plan.”
Drivers often arrive at their planned rest stop and decide, with a little more coffee, they can press on and reach their destination more quickly, only to find they are more fatigued than they thought, he said.
It is important for travelers to deliberately plan for their destination and know what they will be doing, Kilpack said.
“If you are going to be in the outdoors, plan for the weather,” he said. “If you are going to be in crowded cities or foreign countries, plan for your security.”
Proper security requires several measures, Kilpack said.
“Be aware of your surroundings, but don’t stand out,” he said. “Don’t be flashy, and secure your belongings.”
Vehicles are especially vulnerable on vacation trips, so valuables should be kept out of sight in trunks and hidden compartments and under seats.
The choice of a hotel room is another consideration, Kilpack said.
“Get your hotel room between the second and fifth floors,” he said. “They’re harder to access for thieves, but are escapable in the event of a fire. Also be sure to secure your valuables in the hotel safe because room safes are easily accessed by staff.”
People should also prepare for various scenarios once they reach their destination – when they are shopping, using public transportation, out at night and other situations.
“Travel in small groups and have rally points,” Kilpack said. “Don’t stand out in a crowd. Secure your belongings in such a way to limit access – keeping your wallet in your front pocket and your backpack on both shoulders, for example.”
Travelers should also make sure their vehicle is ready for a long trip.
According to the Air Force Safety Center, tire failure contributed to 43.3 percent of crashes in the civilian population between 2005 and 2007, and brake failure contributed to 25 percent of crashes.
The National Crime Prevention Council advises vacationers to carry travelers’ checks instead of cash and to record information of valuables taken on their trip. The council also recommends travelers learn about their vacation destinations before they arrive, know what sites they want to visit and determine how to get there using a safe, well-traveled route.