Georgia military veterans and their fellow service members from across the country who return to the United States following war service in the Middle East are often accompanied by singular stresses owing to their combat experiences.
The public has heard about many of these, which most often range from physical injuries and wounds to self-medication issues and post-traumatic stress disorders.
What is much less frequently mentioned in the media is the erratic driving behavior of many returning combat veterans, which includes speeding, reckless driving and other behind-the-wheel maneuvers that collectively make them highly susceptible to being involved in deadly car accidents.
In fact, and as compared to the general population, returning Iraq and Afghanistan combat vets have a 75 percent higher chance of dying in a crash.
Chuck Deweese, a traffic safety advocate, ventures an opinion as to why that might be the case. "The bottom line is, these men and women are taught to drive in Iraq and Afghanistan like madmen," he says.
Indeed, the leading cause of veterans dying during their first year back in the United States following a Middle East deployment is a motor vehicle accident. Some vets have related that they grow edgy and nervous in traffic. For some, the defensive driving they practice in combat areas is carried out to an extent on domestic roadways.
It is especially hard for single and younger vets, especially those who experienced combat action.
The VA has teamed with other government departments in establishing a program it calls the Safe Driving Initiative. The program is aimed specifically at returning combat veterans and toward helping them readjust to driving safely back in the United States.
Source: AOL Autos, "Tragedy on wheels: Why returning vets are in frequent car crashes" Oct. 11, 2011
