Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Erickson | A vehicle spins his tires to warm up the rubber before a race at El Paso Motorplex on...... read more read more
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EL PASO, Texas - It's 1:30 a.m. The road ahead is dark except the glow of a red stop light. Two sports cars come to a halt next to each other at the light, the drivers look over at one another and a challenge is sent with the roar of an engine.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 the number of accidents involving a soldier has added up quickly around the Fort Bliss and surrounding areas.
According to Scott Howes, lead instructor for Cape Fox Government Services on Fort Bliss, the number-one reason for soldier related accidents is speed.
If a soldier must fill the need for a little adrenaline rush by racing at high speeds, they should be directed to a local and legal racing strip. Not only is it taking that driver off city streets, it is also placing them in an environment meant for high speeds.
A quick search for local race tracks online can show soldiers where they can find racing strips that are open to anyone with a car. One place that Soldiers have found is El Paso Motorplex, located just near Interstate 10 in Clint, Texas.
The track is about 30 to 40 minutes east of Fort Bliss. Racers pay a small fee at the racing strip, but a few bucks and a short drive are cheaper than a fine for reckless driving. More importantly it’s worth preventing the loss of a soldier’s life.
When it comes to racing any vehicle at high speeds, risks wil always be involved.
“All it takes is something as little as sand on the roadway to completely cause you to lose control,” stated Spc. McKinley Barker, a medic assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 501st Combat Aviation Brigade. “The first few times I went to the track to race my commander did a risk assessment on me and my vehicle.”
In order to mitigate the risks involved with racing vehicles, soldiers should take the time to properly inspect their vehicle before getting behind the wheel.
One of the most overlooked areas of a vehicle is the tire pressure. Under inflation is the number one cause of tire failure according to Bridgestone’s Tiresafety.com.
While inspecting the vehicle also make sure the seatbelts are free from tears and are working correctly. Seatbelts are the most effective traffic safety device for preventing death and injury according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If you’re going to race your vehicle at high speed the safest place to do it is in a controlled environment, like a track. On a track you don’t have to worry about the added hazard of pedestrians, or cross traffic
“When the light turns green and the car accelerates all that is going through my head is shifting gears and accelerating,” said Barker. “I go into a tunnel vision; the finish has all of the focus.”
The truth of the matter is, if soldiers are going to race their vehicles at high speeds, tracks like El Paso Motorplex is a safe and legal place to do it. Practice safe racing, take it to the track and enjoy the adrenaline rush.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.20.2012 17:31 |
| Story ID: | 82648 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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