Steps to take in planning safe trips Published June 21, 2012 By 341st Missile Wing safety office MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Travel plans for the season must always include planning and risk management. Before hitting the road, Airmen should consider long-distance driving risks as well as how to pack their car. The following risk management steps - ABCDD - are great tools to use: · Assess the situation: Identify and assess the hazards associated with a particular mission task or activity. · Balance Controls: Consider all available controls (resources) available to ensure success or mitigate identified hazards. · Communicate: Communicate with leadership or others to discuss problems, intentions and possible alternatives. In individual situations carefully consider personal actions before deciding upon and implementing a final course of action. · Decide and Debrief: Make the decision to continue, modify or abandon the mission or activity based upon real-time circumstances and conditions. Provide feedback on what worked and what did not work to ensure important lessons learned are passed to others; everyone's experience can help save lives. The following information on the TRiPS tool was taken from the Air Force Portal website at https://www.my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/ep/browse.do?programId=t6925EC3163FF0FB5E044080020E329A9&channelPageId=s6925EC13537F0FB5E044080020E329A9 The TRiPS planning tool, an on-line, automated driving risk-assessment tool, hosted by the Army Combat Readiness Center for the Air Force, will also help mitigate many hazards associated with vacations. Airmen should use it before going on leave, especially when driving outside command travel limits. The system helps Airmen and their supervisors recognize and avoid common hazards on the highway: fatigue, not buckling up, speed and distractions. A typical TRiPS session takes less than 10 minutes. Members input information about their travel plans and driving habits and TRiPS presents an overall risk assessment, which includes a map of the route, links to state highway information and weather conditions, and examples of mishaps. It also offers suggestions to reduce any risks. This can also be a helpful guide for overseas members. For more information on planning safe trips, visit the following links: http://www.dot.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/SafeTravelPlan.aspx http://www.planning-fun-road-trips.com/road-trip-planner.html.