R 271754Z OCT 09 

ALCOAST 616/09
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: BRAVO ZULU: FY09 COAST GUARD OFF-DUTY 2- AND 4-WHEEL MOTOR
VEHICLE MISHAP REDUCTION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC// 242108Z JUL 09/ALCOAST 433/09
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC// 031706Z AUG 09/ALCOAST 449/09
1. I COMMEND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COAST GUARD FOR A JOB WELL
DONE IN THE SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF OFF-DUTY MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS
IN FISCAL YEAR 2009 (FY09). THROUGH A COMBINATION OF LEADERSHIP AT
ALL ORGANIZATIONAL LEVELS, RESPONSIBILITY, AWARENESS, TRAINING AND
FOCUS, THE COAST GUARD MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN MITIGATING THIS
SERIOUS THREAT TO LIFE AND LIMB.
2. DURING FY09, UNITS REPORTED 147 OFF-DUTY MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS,
REPRESENTING A 17 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
REPORTED MISHAPS FROM FY08 AND THE LOWEST NUMBER OF REPORTED OFF-
DUTY MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS SINCE FY03. INDEED, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN 10 YEARS, WE DID NOT LOSE A SINGLE SHIPMATE TO A 4-WHEEL VEHICLE
FATALITY. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED A 25 PERCENT DECLINE IN 2-WHEEL
FATALITIES.
3. ALONG WITH THE OVERALL DECLINE IN THE FREQUENCY OF OFF-DUTY
MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS, WE EXPERIENCED A DECLINE IN MISHAP INJURY
SEVERITY INCLUDING A 40 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS
MEMBERS WERE HOSPITALIZED AND IN THE NUMBER OF LOST WORK DAYS.
4. TO THE GUARDIANS WHO MADE THIS ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBLE, I EXTEND MY
SINCERE THANKS AND A BRAVO ZULU. TO EACH OF YOU, CONTINUE DOING AS
YOU HAVE DONE - BE THE GUARDIAN FOR YOURSELF, YOUR SHIPMATES AND
YOUR FAMILY. DONT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN - MAINTAIN THIS VIGILANT
POSTURE IN FY10.
5. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION AND INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
REFERENCES A AND B WITH UNIT PERSONNEL AT ALL-HANDS BRIEFS.
6. FOR ADDITIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INFORMATION, UNITS CAN
ACCESS THE (HSWL)(SE) HOMEPAGE AT:
HTTP://CGWEB.MLCA.USCG.MIL/KDIV/KSEHOMEPAGE.HTM OR COMDT (CG-113)
WEB PAGE AT: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/SAFETY/CG1132/DEFAULT.ASP.  YOU
CAN ALSO VIEW A RECENT SAFETY PODCAST MADE DURING A VISIT TO THE
INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AT:
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG1/CG113/CG1132/MOTORVEHICLESAFETY.ASP.
7. RADM MARK J. TEDESCO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORK-LIFE,
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.