Returning Veterans and road rules
JM and Claymore sent us this link to the Autoblog which reports on a study by USAA (.pdf) which says you guys are still driving like in you’re combat;
The increase in at-fault accidents was greatest for Army veterans, whose at-fault accidents increased by 23 percent, followed by Marines at 12.5 percent, Navy at 3 percent and Air Force at 2 percent.
Drivers with three or more deployments experienced 36 percent more at-fault accidents, drivers with two deployments saw 27 percent more and drivers with one deployment had an increase of 12 percent.
Individuals with longer deployments were generally more likely to be involved in at fault accidents.
USAA’s press release. I guess you guys are all moving to West Virginia, because I see a bunch of people driving exactly like that here.
Category: Veterans Issues
This trend would be easily corrected if all vehicles had reflective belts on them, especially while being driven defensively.
I can’t say I would completely disagree with the basic premise. I was a driver for 7 months in the Stan, and when I came back, I know that I drove like an asshole. It took months to finally figure out that it wasn’t ok to just cut people off, weave in and out of traffic, and drive 30% faster than the rest of traffic.
When I came back, I wouldn’t drive for weeks. It was borderline terrifying how fast everything moved. I got used to 2 mile/hour convoys heading in the wrong direction across featureless sand.
I drove like that working the inner city. What’s wrong with driving defensively?
I just ordered an M1114 with oversized bumpers…my son will be my gunner (with a BB gun) and I’ll ram the dumbass drivers who don’t get out of my way..
just kidding. who comes up with these studies? I’ve been driving for over 40 years and just had my first crash a few weeks ago when 2 HUA drivers rear ended me.
@3: I had the opposite problem. When I left Baghdad in 04, we were in canvas topped humvees with no doors. Hauling ass, turn signals and quick random lane changes were the reason I got pulled over 5 times in one week during my block leave in MI. 3 times by the same trooper for the same reason (erratic lane changes going under the same overpass) on the same stretch of road. The 3rd time, he didn’t even bother making it all the way to the car window, just waved at me and left. That trooper made up for every BS traffic stop I’ve ever been in
My unit covered it only a little bit during the last reintegration I went through in Dec. But all I recall was the lady telling the story how her husband kept telling her ‘clear right’ whenever she got to an intersection. I know there’s already alot of BS we have to suffer through during reintegration, but with a 20+% increase in at fault accidents, maybe this should be getting a higher priority for returning troops.
@5: Better have another kid, you need someone to pull airguard duty.
We bubbleheads were also told not to drive for a few days after getting back off Westpac or SSBN patrol, but for the reason not just that we hadn’t driven in some cases for six-plus months, but that we had no depth perception.
Old habits die hard, I guess.
Gee, USAA just gave itself justification to further jack up their insurance rates. BTW: Oklahoma’s rates are as high as the deadliest parts of Virginia.
And, because there are so many vets on the roads, civilians will see their rates jacked up too.
Gotta love the anti-vet hate out there.
FWIW, we did receive briefings and have to watch a video or two about How to Drive in a Not-Warzone.
@10: Do you have a copy on digits or know where I could get it? The only thing my unit did was not allow motorcycle riders to ride until they had retaken the post safety course.
90% of statistics are made up!
Dave O. USAA is an awesome company, which caters to vets. They have the lowest insuarance rates I have ever seen. They actually give me money back every year. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I think you are a bit off base with that particular jab. Just my 2 cents.
@11 I will ask around and see what we had. I think it was part of the “Battle Mind” series of videos we had to watch later, too, but I’ve seen an awful lot (of awful) video “training” over the last few years, so I’m probably mixing it up.
“But the company has no plans to raise auto insurance rates based on the data.”
Dave O, that was from the article. And I’ve been a member of USAA for a long time. They are not the least bit hostile to vets at all. And I’ve sent insurance agents away when they found that I was a USAA customer.
@12: According to Barny Stinson it’s 83%
Dave O–when my current policy expires I’m switching over to USAA. BETTER coverage than I currenly have (I’m upping to 100/300 versus 50/100 currently, plus dropping my Comp/Collision deductible to $250) and still paying $200/year less than I am now.
Unfortunately, I was one of the statistics. I almost split my face in half going into a tree at 50 – 60 mph. Grateful as all for the police at that time.
Based on my experience, this one’s probably legit. Between either not driving (if you’re not a driver) or having to drive tactically (if you’re a driver) for a year or more, I know I came back from OCONUS with driving skills that were rusty as hell.
Way back when during the first sandbox playdate, I did a alot of driving in both desert and urban environments throughout my time there (M997). From bat-outa-hell fast and aggressive for any number of reasons in deserts and urban enviroments to slow manuvering through minefields, debris and other obstacles such as crowds of Kuwaiti citizens, etc., we did it.
And I had never gotten any kindo of tickets beforehand of any kind. But when I got back, I apparently continued driving much like I did there doing things like sudden lane changes, speeding, swerving, etc. and in fact, got so many tickets in only a couple of months that I had take a remedial class to erase some of a bad points I had earned. Afterwards, I guess I got used to the expectations of driving back home gradually-it was never something a conscious thing.
So, the USAA study makes some sense to me from my own experiences, and mine were certainly a hell of alot less less than folks who have done similar things for a lot longer in the GWOT.
Also, I have USAA too, and they rock as a company.
C-
I’ll admit I drove like an asshole the first 5-6 months after I came back…and I still from time to time instinctively move away from something suspicious on the side of the road or a fresh patch job in the road. And yeah, also a USAA customer. I love that company.
Let’s see, you’re driving to keep your outfit alive during multiple tours and when you come home you’re suddenly supposed to forget it. I’m not trying excuse anyone who’s had an accident, especially one with injuries, but when you live something 24/7 for years on end sometimes it’s hard to let go.
I still have a little bit of the rage when I drive. I am getting better. My wife wouldnt ride with me for about a year after getting back. I still think we are better drivers than the fools out there on the road texting, etc. We are more aware of our surroundings. We just dont take any shit on the road from fools.
Dont tell rep. ortego in louisiana about this, he will have another reason to hate vets.
Stay the hell away from USAA. You’ll be very sorry.
Have more than one vehicle? Is one of them ‘collectible’? Then you’ll have to pay full rates on USAA, or they won’t cover ANY of them. USAA is a ‘all or none’ insurer- they won’t provide selective coverage. Even when companies like Haggerty will fully cover a collectible car for CENTS compared to USAA.
They track your kids birthdays- when they reach driver age, they automatically get added to your policy. No matter that they might be away in college and not driving your car, or, that you forbid them to drive it and have their own.- they are of age, so they jack your rates accordingly.
No sir. USAA is NOT the panacea you make them out to be. Shop wisely- ask them hard questions, like you would any other firm. Ask them about coverage on 2d dwellings (rentals, in-laws, vacation properties, etc) and you won’t like that answer either.
I’ve experienced this personally from them and worse-