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CHAPTER 10
TRAFFIC SAFETY
For many years, motor vehicle mishaps have
accounted for a majority of the accidental deaths of
Navy personnel. From 1982 through 1992, 2, 266 sailors
died in motor vehicle mishaps. Many others suffered
injuries that prevented them from returning to the work
force.
The Navy’s operational readiness depends upon its
people. Motor vehicle mishaps are degrading this
readiness through needless deaths and injuries. To
combat this problem, the Navy established the Navy
Traffic Safety Program. This program defines the safety
precautions, regulations, and laws governing the use of
all vehicles by Navy people, both on and off duty.
In this chapter, we address the following areas of the
Navy Traffic Safety Program:
Program applicability
Program enforcement
Safety belts
Child safety seats
Driver education
Alcohol
Pedestrians
Portable headphones
Motorcycles
NAVY TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAM
The Navy Traffic Safety Program defines motor
vehicles as wheeled vehicles designed for travel on
public roads under motor power or assisted by motor
power. Vehicles include automobiles, trucks,
motorcycles, mopeds, and all-terrain vehicles. Navy
personnel may operate motor vehicles that they or the
government own, lease, rent, or control. The Navy
Traffic Safety Program applies to all naval bases,
stations, facilities, installations, detachments, and all
other property under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy.
Every command, including forces afloat, must
designate, in writing, a traffic safety program manager.
Department of Defense (DOD) and Navy motor
vehicles must conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Tactical and combat vehicles must closely
conform to federal motor carrier safety regulations.
Each naval installation must strive to meet the highway
safety program standards (HSPS) outlined in Issuance
of Navy Traffic Safety Program, OPNAVINST
5100.12F. These standards include marking hazards,
setting safe speed limits, adopting laws, and ensuring
that drivers are licensed.
PROGRAM APPLICABILITY
The Navy Traffic Safety Program applies to the
following motor vehicle operators, passengers, and
pedestrians:
All Navy military personnel (on or off base and
on or off duty)
All Navy civilian personnel in a duty status, on
or off base
All people in, or on any Navy motor vehicle, on
or off base
All people on a naval base, anytime
Even when driving an off-road motorcycle while off
duty, personnel must obey applicable requirements of
the Navy Traffic Safety Program.
PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT
Noncompliance with certain parts of the Navy
Traffic Safety Program can result in a court martial
under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). It
can also result in nonjudicial punishment (NJP) for
military people involved in minor violations.
Noncompliance by civilian employees may result in
disciplinary action.
If you receive an injury because you violate a Navy
Traffic Safety Program regulation, the violation may be
considered in determining the compensation to which
you may be entitled. For example, if you have an
accident while driving a friend’s motorcycle without
wearing the required protective equipment (an approved
helmet, proper shoes, etc.) or before attending the
motorcycle safety course, the Navy may not pay your
medical bills. If you die, your family may not receive
all of your death benefits.
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