Crashes among returning military personnel on the rise: report

San Antonio – Within the first six months of returning from deployment, military personnel experience a 13 percent increase in at-fault vehicle incidents, according to a report (.pdf file) from USAA, an insurer for military members and their families.

Researchers analyzed data on the number of at-fault driving incidents that occurred before and after deployment for 158,000 USAA members between January 2007 and February 2010. Army veterans reported the greatest increase at 23 percent, while Marines reported a 12.5 percent increase, the Navy a 3 percent increase and the Air Force a 2 percent increase, study results indicate. Researchers said drivers losing control of their vehicle was the most commonly reported cause of incidents.

USAA member Brad Hammond said he was taught to “get from point A to point B as quickly as possible with the least amount of our casualties as possible” while stationed overseas, and found himself retaining that driving style when he returned home to Denver, according to a USAA press release.