MOORSEVILLE, N.C. -- What does driving at speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour have to do with safety in the Marine Corps? It means a whole lot when Team Marines Racing is involved.
Recently, the Safety Division, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), joined with Team Marines Racing and driver Ashton Lewis Jr., to produce a public service announcement (PSA) on driver safety. The PSA is scheduled to be released later this month and will be played at bases and stations throughout the Marine Corps.
“Using NASCAR drivers is a great way to reach our Marines, young and old,” said Dawn Jakutowicz, Safety Communications, HQMC Safety Division. “Marines identify with and try to emulate their sports heroes.”
More than willing to set the example for Marines and race fans who cheer him on each weekend, Lewis Jr., driver of the #25 Team Marines Ford, stressed the importance of safety in his profession and away from the track.
“The car I drive at work [on the racetrack] has many safety features not found in the cars and trucks you find on the road,” said Lewis. “When I think of what a wreck can do to a car even at 35 mph, without those safety features, it definitely makes me more cautious and careful on the road.”
During the PSA, Lewis encourages Marines to use seatbelts and think about safety before getting behind the wheel. He stresses the importance of being there for his team on the track and wants Marines to remember their commitment to their team.
According to statistics from the Naval Safety Center, there were 378 fatalities related to private motor vehicle (PMV) accidents from FY02-FY04. From these statistics, 51 percent of the fatalities can be attributed to Marines and Sailors not wearing seatbelts. Alcohol was a factor in 30 percent of the fatalities and speeding in 41 percent. Reinforcing the need for safety during liberty and leave periods, more than 60 percent of Navy and Marine Corps PMV fatalities occur at night and during weekends.
“Unfortunately, we lose more Marines during the summertime between May 1 and Labor Day to PMV accidents than we do any other time during the year,” said Jakutowicz. “This is the time when people take their vacations, where Marines do more activities after work because of the longer daylight hours, and where there are more social gatherings where alcohol may be consumed.”
Meanwhile, the PSA will be released to coincide with the Memorial Day weekend liberty period. It is the intent of the Safety Division that the PSA be played during pre-liberty safety briefs to reinforce the message going out to Marines and Sailors.
“Our campaign is focused on three main areas; getting Marines to wear their seat belts, keeping Marines from driving drunk, and stressing that Marines must look out for each other,” said Jakutowicz. “Before they take risks behind the wheel, they must remember that they are an important part of a team.”
Ashton Lewis is ranked fifth in the standings for the NASCAR Busch Series Points Championship going into the weekend race at Richmond, Va. At the time this article was written the Marine Corps has lost 25 Marines to PMV accidents this fiscal year.