U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command held its annual summer safety stand down at the Joint Forces Staff College on board Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads, May 16.

The annual summer stand down promotes off-duty safety and recreational awareness in order to minimize mishaps, which historically increase between Memorial Day and Labor Day when Sailors participate in more outdoor activities.

USFF has two safety stand downs per year, one in the spring and one in the fall. While summer tends to bring more outdoor activity-related mishaps than winter, one unfortunate year-round common thread is the number of motor vehicle accidents due to distracted driving.

"You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention," said Capt. Joseph Staud, director of USFF Fleet Safety and Occupational Health. "Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing."

According to the Naval Safety Center, during the 2015 calendar year 3,450 people were killed because of a distracted driver. Another 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

Additionally, nearly 481,000 drivers use their cell phones while driving during daylight hours on a daily basis, creating an increased potential for death and injuries to our workforce.

USFF is responsible for manning, training and equipping more than 125 ships, 1,000 aircraft, and 103,000 active duty service members and government employees, providing combat-ready forces forward to numbered fleets and combatant commanders around the globe in support of U.S. national interest.

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.navy.mil or www.facebook.com/usfleetforces.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.