Mr. SHULMAN. I think the most important statistics I might give you that are contained in my statement show the difference between our accident experience on Government-owned vehicles and our accident experience with private vehicles operated off duty.

We exercise a substantial degree of control not only with respect to inspection and maintenance of Government-owned vehicles, but with respect to control of drivers as well.

Last year the Department of Defense vehicles were driven some 121,000 miles for each accident, and the more than 300,000 vehicles I mentioned drove more than 2.3 billion miles for a total of 120 fatalities. This mileage was achieved worldwide, Mr. Chairman, over a wide variety of routes including roads made by the vehicles themselves.

In contrast to that, 1,514 military personnel were killed in accidents involving the use of their private motor vehicles off post, off duty.

TESTING AND LICENSING MILITARY PERSONNEL

I might describe briefly our testing and licensing procedures for military personnel.

Our civilian personnel are equipped as drivers, as with all other agencies, through Civil Service Commission requirements except to the extent that additional training is required for tactical vehicles. But for military personnel, we have, to begin with, a driver selection battery known as battery I, which is a series of tests to determine driving aptitudes and basic knowledge of motor vehicle operation.

We have driver selection battery II which is a series of written and manual tests to determine driver judgment, visual judgment, and eye and hand coordination.

We have driver interviews and driver qualification records. Driver interviews are an integral part of the program for selecting, training, qualifying, and retention of drivers.

Physical evaluation measures. We have a series of psychophysical tests administered by means of a standard driver testing and training device to evaluate physical abilities and to provide a basis for counseling and guidance.

Counseling, guidance, and remedial training. The driver applicant is assisted in overcoming or correcting physical deficiencies or poor driving habits. Counseling and remedial training are a necessary part of the licensing process and are required prior to the issuance of permits; and, of course, we have driver performance tests and all of these tests are applied not only for new applicants but for applicants for renewed driving privileges as well.

We play a large coordinating role with other Federal agencies and with State and local governments in whatever way we can to help promote driving safety, but the paramount matter that we do do and which I have just mentioned is our driver testing, training, and remedial program.

I think that would be a summary of my statement, Mr. Chairman, (The prepared statement of Mr. Shulman follows:)

EXHIBIT 41

STATEMENT PREPARED BY STEPHEN N. SHULMAN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND CIVIL RIGHTS)

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

It is a real pleasure for me to appear before this Subcommittee to discuss the role of the Department of Defense in traffic safety. The Department of Defense has a major interest in traffic safety. The Department has some 316, 754 administrative and tactical vehicles, exclusive of tracked vehicles. As one of the largest users of motor vehicles in the United States, the Department is keenly interested in and vitally concerned with traffic safety.

The concern of the Department in traffic safety is for the safety

of Department military and civilian personnel who operate governmentowned vehicles and private vehicles in the conduct of official business, and for the motoring public with whom these personnel come in contact. The Department of Defense is also interested in the safety of its personnel as they operate their own vehicles while off duty.

The Department further has a concern with safe and efficient highway transportation as it relates to national defense. From this point of view, the Department is interested in highway design, construction and use; vehicle requirements; and driver selection, training and licensing.

Within the continental United States, the use of military motor transport is confined to training, to local administrative hauling, and to meeting special emergency needs. Many trucks, trailers, semi-trailers, passenger cars and buses, and other types of vehicles are employed by military installations in the United States for local and other administrative use. Such

vehicles are required for similar use in the overseas commands. Military motor transport can be expected to continue to play an indispensable role in the support of combat forces.

Within the continental United States, attention has been directed

toward improvements and economies in the operation of administrative vehicles, through pooling, through the promotion of safe driving, and through the proper allocation, use, and organizational maintenance of equipment. In recognition of the importance of good roads for national defense, the Director of Transportation, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Headquarters, Department of the Army, as the designated representative of the Department of Defense, works closely with the Bureau of Public Roads, U. S. Department of Commerce, with the American Association of State Highway Officials, and other groups which have the primary responsibilities for the improvement and expansion of the Nation's strategic road network. The development of road and bridge design criteria, the

construction of access roads, the standardization of State laws on allowable lengths and weights of trucks, and the removal of restrictions on the use of military vehicles are similarly matters of coordinated effort aimed at sa ig facilitating the flow of military traffic over the Nation's highways in wartime.c

Equipment

Tactical motor vehicles are built to meet military requirements.

Much of this equipment, especially tracked vehicles, is not ordinarily operated over public thoroughfares and when it is, the operation is under controlled conditions (convoys, escorts, road guards).

Motor vehicles used within the Department for administrative purposes

are similar to those used in other Federal departments and agencies, and -. accordingly are comparable to those procured under General Services Administration specifications.

Drivers

The Department carries on a vigorous and aggressive effort to build

and maintain a high quality, working program for motor vehicle drivers.

This program embraces both military and civilian drivers of governmentowned vehicles.

Military

Each of the military departments has regulations providing standard

procedures for the selection, training and licensing of military personnel to become operators of military motor vehicles. Motor vehicle driver testing procedures include the following:

a. Driver selection battery I. A series of written tests to determine driving aptitude and basic knowledge of motor vehicle operation. L9167990

b. Driver selection battery II. A series of written and manual tests to determine driver judgment, visual judgment and eye-hand coordination. c. Driver interviews and driver qualification records. Driver interviews are an integral part of the program for selecting, training, qualifying and retention of drivers.

Ad. Physical evaluation measures. A series of psycho-physical tests administered by means of a standard driver testing and training device to evaluate applicant's physical abilities and provide a basis for counseling and guidance.

e. Counseling, guidance, and remedial training. The driver applicant is assisted in overcoming or correcting physical deficiencies or poor driving habits. Counseling and remedial training are a necessary part of the licensing process and are accomplished prior to the issuance of permits.