Justice Speaks Podcast Episode #8

Motor vehicle crashes are a major concern for the general population, but for U.S. military personnel and veterans, the risks are even greater. Between 1999 and 2012, more active military personnel died in noncombat vehicle crashes (4,423) than in the Iraq war (4,409). For veterans, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death in the early years after returning from deployment.

The Challenge of Re-Integration and Driving

Service members receive extensive training on defensive and evasive driving techniques in combat zones, where quick decisions can mean life or death. They are conditioned to scan roads for explosives, view fast-approaching vehicles as threats, and drive aggressively to avoid danger. However, these habits don’t immediately disappear once they return home. The muscle memory developed in war zones can lead to risky driving behaviors on civilian roads.

Recognizing this challenge, Minnesota launched a comprehensive re-integration program in 2005 for returning National Guard veterans, including a focus on traffic safety. This initiative emphasized the need for veterans to retrain their instincts and adjust to civilian driving conditions. The program has since expanded to other National Guard units and branches of the U.S. military.

Veterans’ Safe Driving Initiative: Home Safe, Drive Safe, Stay Safe

To address these challenges on a national scale, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Department of Defense (DOD) developed the Veterans’ Safe Driving Initiative in 2009. This initiative includes:

• Public Awareness Campaigns – Partnering with veteran organizations, law enforcement, and even NASCAR legend Richard Petty, the initiative promotes safe driving habits.
• Key Focus Areas:
  • Preventing impaired driving (both as a driver and passenger)
  • Promoting seat belt use
  • Encouraging helmet use for motorcyclists
• Strategic Research Plan – The VA and DOT also launched long-term research to understand the psychological and biomechanical factors contributing to veterans’ traffic risks.

Staying Safe on the Road

The key to post-deployment road safety is simple: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t ride with an impaired driver. Always wear a seat belt. Wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

Our veterans survived the dangers of war; now, they must navigate a different kind of risk at home. By raising awareness and implementing targeted safety measures, we can help ensure they stay safe on our nation’s roads.

To all veterans: Thank you for your service—let’s make sure you stay safe.

Related Links:

Website:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs – Safe Driving Initiative

Other:

Veterans Safe Driving Initiative Brochure