Help us help you Published July 13, 2010 By Col. Kimerlee Conner 21st Mission Support Group commander PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The summer months are a perfect time to enjoy the beautiful weather, outdoor activities, and to spend time with our family and friends. However, with the kids out of school and other distractions, it can also increase some driving hazards. We owe it to our community to be mindful of the speed limits on our installation, particularly in the housing areas and around the child development centers and youth center - anywhere we can expect our children to be. When I was in high school at Yokota Air Base, Japan, a woman hit and dragged a child in the parking lot of the on-base school. The child suffered some serious injuries and obviously it was a dramatic event on the base which had tremendous impact. To this day, I still think of that incident every time I am at the CDC or the youth center; I simply can't imagine the guilt the woman must have felt or the terror of the parents. Be vigilant and be cautious, it is much better to be late than to create an event with such dire consequences. In an effort to enhance the safety of the community, security forces will be increasing traffic enforcement in housing areas and base locations with demonstrated trends for speeding and parking violations. The speed limit on base is 30 mph unless otherwise posted. The speed limit in housing areas is 15 mph. With the warming temperatures, families and children have increased outdoor activities in housing areas, parks and community gathering locations. While points assessed and base driving suspension are consequences of speeding on base, consider the story I mentioned as an even greater deterrent. Air Force instructions provide us guidance on the possible driving privilege suspensions for various traffic offenses. Depending on the offense, suspensions can be assessed by removing a person's driving privileges from 30 days to six months. A few notable portions of the instruction suspend base driving privileges for speeding 10 mph over in housing areas, driving while talking on a cell phone, texting while driving, driving under the influence and failing to wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint device. The ultimate goal of base leadership and security forces is to ensure that Peterson AFB is a safe and secure environment for all base residents and anyone working or visiting the base. Since Memorial Day and the start of the 101 Critical Days of Summer Campaign, our 21st Security Forces Squadron patrols have implemented new enhanced patrol tactics, greatly increasing the police presence on the streets of Peterson AFB. The new patrol plans support our base Integrated Defense Plan and enhance the safety and security of the base. The community will notice our security forces on foot, bike and all-terrain vehicle patrols in key locations and sectors of the base; increasing direct community contact. We ask that each of you help us help you by ensuring that you are obeying the rules and regulations of the road. Help us prevent any unfortunate accidents like the one at Yokota...nothing is worth that!