Wittman, Brown introduce bill to improve tactical vehicle safety after fatal mishaps

Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Anthony Brown (D-MD) have introduced a bill aimed at improving the safety of military tactical vehicles by authorizing the use of data recorders on Army and Marine Corps vehicles following a series of fatal mishaps.

Military leadership can use the data to develop performance criteria and measurable standards for driver training programs, Wittman and Brown said in a press release.

Wittman is the ranking member on the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee and Brown is a member of that subcommittee as well as the tactical air and land forces subcommittee.

A July Government Accountability Office report found 123 soldiers and Marines had died in Army and Marine Corps tactical vehicle accidents from 2010 to 2019.

The data recorders would allow the services to identify near-misses and potential hazards that could go undetected and establish a database to ensure consistent implementation of safety programs across the services, according to the press release.

House authorizers, in the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee's mark of the fiscal year 2022 defense bill, encouraged the Army to accelerate its addition of anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to its humvee fleet.