Backing Safely

Statistics One out of every four accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques. The cost of “Property Damage Crash” (a typical backing up accident) is presently estimated at an average of $7,400 per event. There are at least 500,000 backing accidents of some type every year. 15,000 include some type of injury and approximately 210 deaths. 31% of all fatalities are mostly children aged five and under. 26% of all fatalities are elderly people aged 70 and over National Safety Council 1 Up to two children every week are killed in the U.S. by back over incidents. 2 Sadly, most of these events (70%) occur with a parent or family member behind the wheel. 3 Besides children and elderly people, some back over accidents also involve pets. (NHSTA) National Highway Safety Traffic Administration

If only trucks would bend

BACKING UP ISN’T EASY The driver’s seat faces forward making it tough to turn to look and see behind the vehicle. Many vehicles create giant blind areas where you can’t see. Mirrors (and even TV camera systems) while helpful, can distort views and don’t cover every area unless positioned properly. While we drive thousands of miles going forward, have you ever stopped to consider that most drivers cover less than a mile or two per year in reverse

What leads to backing collisions? Although it may sound silly, the number one cause of backing accidents is backing up. Unfortunately, backing accidents continue to happen and they are frustrating for everyone These collisions are avoidable/preventable and while most only involve simple property damage, some lead to very serious injuries or even tragic fatalities.

Conditions that may contribute to backing collisions? Moving backwards without first looking to be sure that the area behind the vehicle is clear – no one can assume that it’s safe to back up Lack of, or inadequately designed, mirrors (size, shape, configuration) Improperly positioned mirrors (mounting locations)

Conditions that may contribute to backing collisions? Improperly adjusted mirrors (line of sight, minimize blind spots) Blind spots which can not be easily corrected with mirrors (the area located immediately behind large vehicles)

What leads to backing collisions? View blocks (signs, shrubs) Turning while backing (body of vehicle or trailer obscures target area) Distractions caused by bystanders, traffic, improper signaling of helper, etc. Low visibility conditions (weather, night, enclosed docks, dimly lit garages) Hard to see physical barriers behind the vehicle (posts, cargo, pallets, etc.) Physical barriers which move behind the vehicle prior to, or during, the backing maneuver 1 Up to two children every week are killed in the U.S. by back over incidents. 2 Sadly, most of these events (70%) occur with a parent or family member behind the wheel. 3 Besides children and elderly people, some back over accidents also involve pets. (NHSTA)

Tips to Help If your vehicle has a rear window (sedan, SUV, pickup, van, etc.) use defoggers (if available) to melt snow, ice and keep the window clear. Take time to walk around your vehicle and look for people, vehicles, or other objects that may obstruct your start-up/back-up path. Don’t forget to look overhead to ensure a safe clearance. Minimize distractions (turn off music or talk radio so that you can hear what’s happening around your vehicle) You’ve probably heard many of these tips, but they are worth repeating, since it is possible to “slip into a comfort zone”. While it’s not usually feasible to change the loading/unloading arrangements at most stops, it never hurts to consider alternatives in case a change for the better (safer) is possible. The goal is to minimize backing, OR to facilitate a safe backing movement.

Tips to Help After the walk-around check, have no delay in moving vehicle. Don’t enable another hazard to approach your vehicle while you are getting ready to move. Avoid “blind side” backing (backing and turning simultaneously where the vehicle blocks the driver’s view). Check your mirrors – are they both clean and adjusted to minimize any “blind areas”? Start up slowly at first to allow other vehicles and pedestrians, who may have unexpectedly approached, to safely move away. Tap horn in congested areas or recruit a spotter.

Before Leaving on a Trip Check for proper mirror adjustment. Promptly report broken mirrors and loose mountings. Check for proper tail light, brake light, and turn signal function. Check for proper function of horn and back-up warning signal (if so equipped). Check for proper function of (and take time to practice using) CCTV, sonar or radar back-up sensors (if so equipped 1 Up to two children every week are killed in the U.S. by back over incidents. 2 Sadly, most of these events (70%) occur with a parent or family member behind the wheel. 3 Besides children and elderly people, some back over accidents also involve pets. (NHSTA)

Preventability A collision that occurs while backing up is “preventable” if the driver: backed up when backing could have been avoided by better planning of his/her route backed into traffic stream when such backing could have been avoided failed to get out of cab and check proposed path of backward travel depended solely on mirrors when it was practicable to look back failed to get out of cab periodically and recheck conditions when backing a long distance failed to check behind vehicle parked at curb before attempting to leave parking space relied solely on a guide to help him/her back backed from blind side when he/she could have made a sight-side approach The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers these comments on the preventability of backing accidents

Summary Most backing collisions are avoidable and preventable. It takes a commitment to be vigilant and consistent in your driving duties to avoid these collisions. Thankfully, most backing collisions don’t involve injuries, but they can – do your very best each day to drive in a disciplined manner. 1 Up to two children every week are killed in the U.S. by back over incidents. 2 Sadly, most of these events (70%) occur with a parent or family member behind the wheel. 3 Besides children and elderly people, some back over accidents also involve pets. (NHSTA)