673d SFS ramp up patrols following accident spike

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Javier Alvarez
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson residents may soon notice an increased security forces presence following a spike in car accidents on base.

Reported accidents have more than doubled for some winter months when compared to last year’s totals, said Tech. Sgt. James Partin, 673d Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer of operations. Forty-seven car accidents were reported for Dec. 2016 – an increase from 17 reported in Dec. 2015.

“Increasing patrol coverage provides a safer operating environment on base,” Partin said. “[Our] concern is for public safety and security.”

Snow and ice are believed to be the culprits behind the accident spike.

“It is this time of the year JBER gets the most accidents because of the winter weather,” said Thomas Vose, 673d SFS reports analysis supervisor.

Security forces personnel provided some tips for cruising on JBER streets.

Ice and snow can cause vehicles to slip and slide when stopping, so allow extra distance between other vehicles.

“Drive under the speed limit,” Partin said. “Just because it’s posted at 30, it doesn’t mean it’s the safest speed to drive when the road is iced over.”

Pay attention to the posted road condition and drive accordingly, he said. For road conditions red and black, drivers are expected to drive 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. In road condition black, only mission-essential and emergency response vehicles are allowed on the road.

Road conditions are posted at all JBER gates and are displayed on the JBER website.

Distracted driving is a common accident cause, Partin said, frequently because of a cell phone or people not looking when backing up.

JBER roads are used by more than 32,000 people, Partin said. These people are service members and dependents, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. By practicing safe and defensive driving, we all make JBER safer.