DISTRICT SEVEN DRIVER SAFETY CAMPAIGN

R 241927Z JAN 08
FM CCGDSEVEN MIAMI FL
TO ALLCOGARDSEVEN
INFO COMCOGARD MLC LANT NORFOLK VA
COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA
COGARD TACLET SOUTH MIAMI FL
COGARD TACLET SEVEN
COGARD INTSUPRTCOM MIAMI FL
COGARD NESU MIAMI FL
COGARD ESU MIAMI FL
COGARD MSST 91114 MIAMI FL
COGARD COMMSTA MIAMI FL
USCGC VALIANT
USCGC RESOLUTE
USCGC THETIS
USCGC MOHAWK
USCGC VENTUROUS
USCGC OAK
COGARD HITRON JACKSONVILLE FL
COGARD INVSER MIAMI FL
COGARD INVSER ST PETERSBURG FL
COGARD INVSER SAVANNAH GA
COGARD INVSER JACKSONVILLE FL
COGARD INVSER KEY WEST FL
COGARD MSST 91108 KINGS BAY GA
COGARD MARITIME FORCE PROTECTION UNIT KINGS BAY GA
USCGC VIGILANT
USCGC CONFIDENCE
USCGC SEA DRAGON
COGARD RUITOFF CHARLESTON SC
COGARD RUITOFF SAVANNAH GA
COGARD RUITOFF JACKSONVILLE FL
COGARD RUITOFF TAMPA FL
COGARD RUITOFF MIAMI FL
COGARD RUITOFF ATLANTA GA
USCGC GALLATIN
USCGC DALLAS
COGARD RU USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
BT
UNCLAS //N05100//
SUBJ: DISTRICT SEVEN DRIVER SAFETY CAMPAIGN
1. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THE SEVENTH DISTRICT HAS THE HIGHEST
DRIVING FATALITY RATE OF ANY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE COAST GUARD;
THIS IS MORE THAN REGRETTABLE, IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. I
THEREFORE CHARGE EACH MEMBER OF OUR DISTRICT FAMILY TO MAKE DRIVER
SAFETY A PRIORITY IN THEIR DAILY LIVES. TODAY IN A STEP TOWARDS
THIS EFFORT, I PERSONALLY LAUNCHED THE DISTRICT SEVEN DRIVER SAFETY
CAMPAIGN AT ISC AND SECTOR MIAMI.
2. THE SEVENTH DISTRICT DRIVING SAFETY CAMPAIGN INCLUDES A SERIES
OF TRAINING EVENTS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS
OF THIS CRITICAL ISSUE TO ALL COAST GUARD MEMBERS IN THE D7 AOR. IN
ADDITION TO THIS TRAINING, A VARIETY OF SUPPORT MATERIALS, TALKING
POINTS, TRAINING GUIDES, SAFETY OFFICER AND CDAR CONTACT
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE D7 DRIVING SAFETY CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
AT: HTTP://CGWEB.LANT.USCG.MIL/D7/D7PORTAL/DRIVESAFE/INDEX.HTM.
3. A KEY ELEMENT TO THIS CAMPAIGN IS THE STREET SMART DRIVER
SAFETY TRAINING THAT I ATTENDED TODAY. THIS VALUABLE TRAINING WILL
BE PROVIDED FOR ALL D7 UNITS DURING FY08 THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF MLC
AND THE "DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN" CAMPAIGN. STREET SMART IS AN
INTERACTIVE PROGRAM PROVIDED BY FLORIDA-BASED EMTS, FEATURING
PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF REAL-LIFE TRAUMA INCIDENTS. THIS
GRAPHIC, 90-MINUTE PRESENTATION UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF
MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
AND SEAT BELT USE. WHEN THE STREET SMART TRAINING BECOMES AVAILABLE
IN YOUR AREA, I EXPECT UNIT COMMANDERS, COS AND OINCS TO MAKE THIS
A MANDATORY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR PERSONNEL.
4. ACCIDENT ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT THE MAIN CAUSES OF FATAL MOTOR
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS INCLUDE FAILURE TO UTILIZE SEATBELTS, SPEED,
ALCOHOL, INEFFECTIVE USE OF DEFENSIVE DRIVING TECHNIQUES, AND
FATIGUE. FURTHER ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE TYPICAL COAST GUARD
MEMBER KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE OR CAR ACCIDENTS IS BETWEEN THE AGES OF
18 AND 31, IS MALE, IS A MEMBER OF A SMALL UNIT, AND IS IN AN OFF-
DUTY STATUS. WHEN IT COMES TO OPERATING A VEHICLE, YOU ARE NEVER
OFF-DUTY. YOU MUST BE PROACTIVE, YOU MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE, AND YOU
MUST FOSTER A CULTURE OF DOING THE RIGHT THING, REGARDLESS OF RANK
OR RATE. AS THE DISTRICT COMMANDER I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE PERSONAL
SAFETY OF EACH MEMBER OF OUR TEAM, AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF YOUR
LOVED ONES. I NEED YOU TO BE SAFE AS DO YOUR FAMILIES - IT'S THAT
SIMPLE.
6. THE LEAD POC FOR THE STREET SMART TRAINING AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE "DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN" CAMPAIGN IS: LT KIMBERLY
CHESTEEN, MLC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER;
305-953-2370; KIMBERLY.B.CHESTEEN(AT)USCG.MIL.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
8. REAR ADMIRAL DAVID KUNKEL, DISTRICT SEVEN COMMANDER, SENDS.
BT
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