Alabama-Based Army Office Says Fatal Accidents Down

An Alabama-based military agency says fatal accidents are declining in the Army.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center at Fort Rucker says accidental death rates of almost all types have stayed the same or fallen since this time last year.

The overall accidental death rate in the Army is down 20 percent from the same time in 2012.

That includes a 19 percent decline in private motor vehicle deaths. On-duty Army combat vehicle deaths declined 75 percent, and aviation deaths are comparable to the year before.

Brig. Gen. Timothy J. Edens says the Army is changing as more soldiers return home from overseas. He says staying safe requires a commitment from both soldiers and leaders alike.