Driving safety always important

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Musal
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
Given the recent incidents of personnel driving on base without seat belts or while texting or talking on a cell phone, a reminder of Air Force policy is in order.

Air Force Instruction 91-207, Paragraph 3.2.2, prohibits the use of cell phones while driving unless using a hands-free device. Additionally, Colorado state law prohibits texting while driving, so while a driver can talk on a cell phone while driving off base (though it isn't recommended), texting while driving is always wrong!

Furthermore, Air Force Instruction 91-207, Paragraph 3.4.1.1, mandates the use of a seat belt at all times while driving or riding in a vehicle, on or off base. Additionally, Colorado state law mandates the use of a seat belt for all drivers and front seat passengers, so in addition to violating Air Force policy, drivers failing to wear a seat belt are breaking the law.

More importantly, driving while distracted by cell phone use can cause crashes; even at 35 miles per hour, drivers and passengers can be ejected through windshields, slam face-first into dashboards or the back of other passengers heads or turn their bodies into deadly pinballs without using a seat belt.

Buckle up, get off the cell phone and drive.