Drive safe; stay attentive, stay alive

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Wilson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  "Have you ever noticed that everyone who drives slower than you is an idiot and everyone who drives faster than you is a maniac," said George Carlin. 

Though George Carlin may be able to find situational humor in the speed of other drivers, driving safety is no joke. 

"The number one cause of vehicle accidents in the Air Force is excessive speed for road conditions," said Tech. Sgt. Russell Cooper, 39th Air Base Wing, Safety non-commissioned officer in charge of inspections. 

Speed is not the only factor that needs to be considered while driving in Turkey. 

Driving in Turkey greatly differs from driving in the U.S., especially in big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, because they are large cities and are very congested, said Sergeant Cooper. 

Many accidents in Turkey involving U.S. drivers in are caused when a Turkish driver takes what would be an unexpected action in the U.S. but are common in Turkey, according to the U.S. Department of State's http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1518.html. 

There are many specific hazards involved with driving in Turkey. 

"The roads are very slick, some of the road signs are inaccurate or nonexistent, and pedestrians will dart in and out of traffic," said Sergeant Cooper. 

There are however, precautions drivers can take to avoid being in an accident. 

"Drive defensively, pay attention and keep your head on a swivel," said Sergeant Cooper. "If you do that and scan your mirrors, you can prevent an accident and keep yourself away from potential hazards." 

Staying attentive to prevent accidents incorporates avoiding distractions. 

Some distractions include smoking cigarettes, eating food, talking to passengers, changing the radio station and talking on a cell phone, which is illegal in Turkey, said Sergeant Cooper. 

Another distraction common in Turkey is "rubbernecking." 

"When a vehicle is traveling at 55 miles per hour, it is moving at more than 80 feet per second," said Sergeant Cooper. "Here in Turkey a driver may see something on the side of the road they've never seen before and in the second it takes to look, a lot can go wrong." 

If something does go wrong, it is vital that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt. 

"Wearing a seatbelt is very important," said Sergeant Cooper. "About a year and a half ago, four guys went down the side of cliff. All of them were wearing seatbelts and all of them survived." 

A vehicle safety kit is another precautionary measure required for all base residents by the 39 ABW. 

The safety kit must include a first aid kit, two reflective triangles, a flashlight, fire extinguisher and a spare tire. 

Vehicles must also have license plate lights, tires must have at least one sixteenth inch of tread, horns must be operational up to 200 feet and all vehicles must be equipped with an operational front and rear bumper with wooden bumpers prohibited, according to Tech. Sgt. Liliana Zamora, 39th security Forces Squadron, non-commissioned officer in charge of pass and registration. 

"People need to realize they're in a different country and traffic is different than what they are accustomed to," said Sergeant Cooper. "Always remember to pay attention to what you are doing and to stay focused your entire ride."