5 Steps to SAFER Driving Scan-Ahead Driving Awareness of Operating Environment Avoid Fixed Stare Establish Eye Contact Look for Escape Routes SAFER is a driving concept wherein the basic idea is that every accident has contributing factors and an underlying cause. This concept also shows that each contributing factor to an accident has an equal and opposite counter measure that if utilized would have prevented the accident. As a Trainer you should familiarize yourself with these guidelines. The acronym SAFER should help you and your student remember them. The guidelines apply to all areas of driving and should be reinforced in other areas, such as Pro-Tread courses and CSA 2010.

Contributing Factors vs. Cause Contributing factors are the conditions found in the operating environment: Equipment Driver Condition Road Conditions Weather Although these factors or conditions do contribute to the causation of the accident – they are not the cause of the accident. The cause of the accident is the over-riding decisions that the driver makes given the conditions found in the operating environment. The cause of the accident comes down to human error In all accidents there are Contributing Factors and there are Causes. Contributing Factors are the less than ideal conditions found in the Operating Environment – equipment, driver, road surface, weather, etc. – that should have been compensated for or eliminated by use of the proper Counter Measure. If bad brakes are the Contributing Factor – and Professional Drivers would discover this fact in their Pre-Trip – then the proper counter measure is to fix them before an accident occurs. If there is limited visibility then the proper measure is to increase the distance between your truck and other vehicles to allow for sudden stops. Given that in the above two examples we can see that each Contributing Factor has an equal counter measure, which brings us to the actual Cause of every accident. Cause is the improper response, or the use of the wrong counter measure, to less than ideal operating environment. The Three Causes or reasons for employing the wrong counter measure are: Ignorance I didn’t know Complacency I didn’t try Callousness I didn’t care Every accident is different, but there are some basic Contributing Factors which recur, and the truth of the matter is that there are very few non-preventable accidents. What that statement means is that there is usually a cause, and that cause is human error; something could have been done that would have prevented the accident form occurring. What that statement implies is that you, as a Professional Driver can take steps to create a pattern of behavior within yourself that can, with practice and willful intent, prevent future accidents. Contributing factors are the conditions found in the operating environment….but they are NOT the cause of the accident. The cause of the accident is the decisions that the driver makes given conditions present in the operating environment. Some examples are: Driving a truck with known equipment issues or problems. Operating the truck when you know that you are sick. Driving too fast on exit ramps, curvy, or narrow roadways. Driving too fast on wet, icy, or snowy roadways.

Cause – “Human Error” The preventable factors, which are the true “cause” of most accidents are: Lack of Focus or Misguided Focus Poor Judgment of Time or Space Improper assumptions about other drivers Lack of Training and Knowledge Lack of Understanding or Proper Reaction to Adverse Conditions Attitude Impairment Improper Vehicle Inspections Lack of Focus: Driving is a serious endeavor, even for the civilian. But for the Professional Driver the responsibilities are intense. You are driving an eighteen-wheel behemoth of several tons’ weight, and sometimes hauling hazardous materials. The potential consequences of any accident are disastrous. Therefore, your focus should at all times be on the job at hand. You and no one else are responsible for every action you commit. As stated above contributing factors are not the cause of any accident, only human error, and when a driver loses his or her focus about what he or she is doing, the results can often be dire. Misguided Focus: Driving a commercial vehicle can be exciting. You are travelling across the country, often seeing more of it than most people. You will meet new people just about every day, and every day is different. But driving for hours on end, bunking in your sleeper berth only to wake up and drive some more can get pretty tedious. Sometimes you feel the need to have something to keep your attention. At times like this it can be very easy to shift your focus from where it should be – driving – to some other endeavor. Counting red Volkswagens or Missouri license plates is not your job when you’re behind the wheel of a US Xpress vehicle. Poor Judges of Time: The human eye is inherently suited for judging movement at 3-5 miles per hour, or the average walking speed. It takes training to gauge movement at 35 to 65 miles per hour. Unless a driver engages in specific practices (many of which will be illustrated within this document) then he or she will be poor judges of how much time a specific vehicle maneuver will require. This lack in judgment can lead to accidents. Poor Judges of Space: From the vantage point of being high above traffic and at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour it is very difficult to eyeball space between two vehicles or under a bridge. This skill must be developed with proper guidance. Improper Assumptions about Other Drivers: Most drivers of non-commercial vehicles have no idea how long it takes to stop a ‘big rig’ at 65mph, or how much room it takes one to make a right-hand turn. Most other drivers are not seeing the road the way you do, nor do they share your goals and destination, nor do they care. This does not make them callous; it just makes them not you. It is always a mistake to assume anything about the other driver. Lack of Training and Knowledge: Many accidents are caused by a lack of training and knowledge on the part of the drivers involved. Most states only require one driving test for their driver’s licenses, and a CDL license often doesn’t require much more. There are several implications inherent in this statement. Most drivers on the road today are less than qualified, and the responsibility to make the right decision regarding your safety and the safety of those around your vehicle rests on you. You will be wrong most of the time to rely on other drivers to make the right choice. Lack of Understanding or Proper Reaction to Adverse Conditions: Related to the above statement, most, if not all accidents that occur under adverse conditions are due to a lack of understanding and proper reaction to those same conditions. If you utilize the SAFER Driving system listed below you will be aware of conditions before they occur and your behavior will be pro-active instead of re-active. Attitude: When you are in a volatile situation (and believe me, driving a three ton vehicle on a heavily populated cause-way is extremely volatile!), emotions have no place in the decision-making process. Maintaining the proper attitude, or leaving your emotions out of the Operational Environment, is an important factor in reducing accidents. Driver Impairment: This refers to any kind of impairment such as alcohol, drugs, fatigue, and/or illness. You are responsible for your own welfare as well as the literally millions of people with whom you are sharing the roadways. Improper Vehicle Maintenance/Pre-Trip: This factor contributes to a small number of accidents, but it is one that can be easily removed by your pre-trip.

Scan-Ahead Driving Your eyes are moving every 2 seconds which expands your central vision. Your focus is at least 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle so your focus includes what will happen as well as what is happening. Pro-Active Driving versus Re- Active Driving. Awareness of Future as well as Present. Make informed decisions. Eye movement such as this will expand the amount of information that your brain has to make a more informed decision. Focusing 15 seconds ahead will bring information from what is up ahead – or the future – into the realm of your present. Having this information about the future will help you make decisions in your present that will positively affect your future. As a Trainer you should stress the importance of being a Pro-Active Driver instead of a Re-Active one. A Pro-Active Driver makes decisions that will prevent accidents from occurring, while a Re-Active Driver is only able to respond to events which seem to come from nowhere.

Reactive Vs. Proactive Driving Scan-Ahead Driving Reactive Vs. Proactive Driving Reactive Driver Proactive Driver Tailgating Has Proper Buffer-Zone around Vehicle Last Second Lane Changes Plans Lane Changes in Advance Excessive Braking Rarely Needs to use Brakes Sudden Steering Changes to Avoid Objects Sees and Responds to Objects before They become Problems Surprised by Adverse Driving Conditions Is Aware of and Responds to Conditions before They Occur Screeching to Halt at Stoplights and Stop Signs Is Aware of Approaching Stops and Slowly Arrives Speeding Speed is Relative to Conditions and at (or under) Posted Speed Limit Excessive Lane Changes Only Changes Lanes when Necessary Surprised by Overhanging Branches Saw the Branches 3 Blocks before Focus is on Vehicle in Front Focus is 15 Seconds Ahead of Vehicle Lets Mind Wander Focuses on Driving Often Has a Blank or Fixed Stare while Driving Moves Eyes Every Two Seconds Uses Excessive Fuel Conserves Fuel Wears out Tires, Brakes, and Transmission Normal Wear on Brakes, Tires, and Transmission Is Always Racing the Clock Plans Ahead and Arrives at Stops on Time Finds Driving Stressful Finds Driving to be a Rewarding Profession Imagine climbing Mt. Everest while only looking at your hands. Imagine playing soccer while only looking at your feet. It’s not impossible that you would be successful, but it is highly improbable that you would be any good at either endeavor. Scan-Ahead Driving involves expanding your field of awareness to include not only what is immediately in front of you but what is well ahead of you. In a very real sense you are going beyond the present and into the future. The present is the back-end of the vehicle in front of you, and the future is the winding road that is 2 miles ahead of you. If your focus is on that vehicle in front of you and not on the mountain pass coming up, you will be surprised when traffic suddenly slows down. You may not be able to react quickly enough. When the future becomes your present – when traffic slows down because of the road conditions – you will be responding as a re-active driver rather than a pro-active one. A re-active driver is the type of driver that responds to the immediate environment. The child who steps out in front of your rig on a city street surprises you if you are a reactive driver. A pro-active driver is the type of driver who scans ahead and sees what conditions exist far ahead and is prepared when they come into his present Operating Environment. The proactive driver saw the child playing on the sidewalk 3 blocks before and had slowed down in plenty of time. The child did not surprise the proactive driver, and the child’s mother thanks him for it.   Recent studies have shown that the average driver makes 115 decisions while safely driving 1 mile. The implications of that statement are that it is necessary to make an average of 115 decisions to safely drive 1 mile. The average speed on a highway is 60 miles per hour, or one mile per minute. That means that the average driver makes 115 decisions per minute or about 2 decisions per second! Many of these decisions are rote, or automatic, such as how much pressure to apply to the accelerator, adjustments to the steering wheel, etc. But consider how vital it is to remain focused 100% of the time. If you take five seconds to read a passing billboard then you have missed out on about 10 decisions. You’ve also covered about 1,320 feet (440 yards), which is over four football fields or one lap around a standard track, without being aware of it!

Making Informed Decisions Scan-Ahead Driving Making Informed Decisions Knowledge and/or Information Deciding between two options is a game of chance unless you are fully aware of what those choices are and what the consequences of your choices will be. In scan-ahead driving your eyes will provide the information as to what is all around you and ahead of you: What is traffic like up ahead? What are the road-surface conditions like ahead? Are there overhead clearance concerns ahead? The most important factor in making a decision is knowledge, or information. Deciding between two options is a game of chance unless you are fully aware of what those choices are and what the consequences of your choices will be. When you are driving one of the best ways to become informed is to use your eyes, and the information you need is all around you. Under Scan-Ahead driving you will focus on the information you need that is in front of you. You need to know:   What is traffic like up ahead? Use signals from other vehicles to gather information: brake lights, turn signals, slowing down, lane shifting. What are the road-surface conditions like up ahead? Scan ahead to see whether obvious conditions are present such as a shift in surface type, such as going from pavement to gravel; look for weather conditions that will affect the road surface like rain, sleet, snow, and ice; scan ahead for construction that might cause sudden stops, lane changes, or other erratic driver-behavior. What is the overhead clearance like up ahead? Scan ahead for overhanging branches, low bridges, vehicles that have extended freight. You cannot get this type of information by keeping your focus on the vehicle in front of you. On the freeway your focus should at about ½ to a mile ahead of you. Remember, it is difficult for the human eye to ‘see’ that kind of distance without some guidance. At 60 miles per hour, you will travel 1 mile in 60 seconds; ½ mile in 30 seconds; and ¼ mile in 15 seconds. As you can see then you can speak of distance in terms of seconds: 15 seconds equals ¼ mile. Therefore, optimally your focus should be at 30 to 60 seconds ahead of you on an open freeway with limited traffic. With normal traffic you should keep this focus at about 15 to 30 seconds ahead. But how do you figure 15 seconds distance in a moving truck? Pick a stationary object up ahead of you (overhead road signs are perfect). It should be far enough ahead that you’ll be able to count up to at least fifteen seconds. After the front of your vehicle passes the marker you’ve chosen, stop counting. If the distance you’ve covered is within fifteen seconds or more then that is the place where your focus should generally be. However, your focus will not rest there; your eyes will be constantly moving (we’ll talk about that a little later). You will not just be staring at a fixed object 15 seconds’ distant. Scan-Ahead driving is one element of the SAFER Driving method and must be utilized in conjunction with the other steps. You are driving a large vehicle and are surrounded by other vehicles, some beside you, some behind you. There are pedestrians and animals to look out for, and there are often inanimate objects like exploded or other debris tires that sometimes clutter the road. Obviously keeping your focus only ahead of you would not be safe. The following steps will give you a better understanding of the proper way in which a Professional Driver can gather information about his or her entire Operational Environment.

Awareness of Operational Environment You have a total awareness of all aspects of your Operational Environment so there are no surprises. You utilize Proper Following distance (6-7 seconds). You use proper techniques for removing tailgaters from behind you. You check your mirrors every 5-8 seconds. You are prepared to stop or yield. As a trainer you should stress controllable elements of your Operating Environment and the ways in which you can minimize the effects of the uncontrollable ones. Controllable elements would include: your vehicle, your attitude, your speed, your following distance, etc. Uncontrollable elements would include: weather, other drivers, road conditions. Remember that a Pro-Active Driver is aware of both the controllable and uncontrollable elements and responds in ways that make him or her a Protective Driver

Awareness of Operational Environment Elements of your operational environment: Truck Trailer Climate Topography Route Traffic Pedestrians Animals Driver Environmental Concerns or Reactionary Measures: Information overload Solid pre-trip inspections Awareness of the entire vehicle Stopping distances Distractions Utilization of other vehicles as a warning system Evaluation of visual input As we mentioned above you are not alone on the road. You have literally millions of other drivers on the roads, and as such you have to be aware of your entire operating environment. Your Operating Environment is all of the elements that make up the physical nature of the arena of a Professional Driver. That’s a complicated way of saying all the stuff that makes up being a truck driver, including yourself.    Elements of the Professional Driver’s Operational Environment Truck: This includes the tire tread, tire inflation, suspension, lights, signal lights, fluids, engine, fuel, windshield, windows, and mirrors. Trailer: This includes the type of cargo (hazmat, non-hazardous, etc.), securement of cargo, fifth wheel, tire tread, and tire inflation. Climate: This not only includes the present weather in your present location, but what the weather will be like where you are going. In a given day you can travel up to 450 miles, and your weather conditions can change dramatically, especially if you’re passing through significant altitude changes. Topography: This refers to the above altitude changes. Are you going over mountains, through deserts, near the ocean; will you be in the North, South, East or West? Route: Your route will usually come by way of your truck’s Sat-Com. You’ll be given fuel stops as well as the safest way to travel to avoid low bridges, etc. However, you are a Professional Driver, and you should check all of this information against your Atlas. A Professional Driver is one who knows rather than believes information, which means you double-check details such as route. You should also use this information to decide about traffic, topography, climate, and any other information that will let you know what you’re in for. Traffic: When will rush hour occur during your drive, and where will you be? Will you be on city streets, country roads, highways, or all of the above? These all have their own traffic considerations. Pedestrians: Notice sidewalks, parked vehicles, crosswalks, intersections, jogging paths, bicycle lanes, school zones, hospital zones, or any other sign of pedestrian life. Animals: Look for obvious signs of animal life including: deer-, cattle- or, sheep-crossings, dogs, cats, opossum, coyote, or other animal-life on the road. Feelings about any of these creatures have no relevance to the Professional driver; his or her only concern is SAFETY. Driver: The single most important element of the Professional Driver’s Operational Environment is the DRIVER. This element refers to: Health: Sick drivers should not drive. Many people try to power through illnesses, but fevers and other illnesses can cause driver-impairment. Weight: As a population the average weight of truck drivers far exceeds the national average, and not by a few pounds. This statistic might not seem like anybody’s business except for the relationship of obesity to sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea. Driver fatigue is as serious a driver impairment as alcohol and drugs, and the results are just as deadly. Keeping yourself fit keeps the roads safe. Attitude: This is not just about keeping a sunny disposition. Road rage kills. Remember the 115 decisions you have to make to drive safely for each mile? If anger, depression, or any other negative emotion is informing even some of these decisions the results can be deadly. Fatigue: As stated above fatigue is a killer. Keep your Hours of Service in compliance. Information: As stated above, an informed driver will make the best and safest decisions.   Too Much Information? How can a driver be aware of all of these elements at once? Well, the brain is a remarkable organ. It can hold a great deal of information, and the amazing thing is that the more you feed it, the more it wants to eat. And the more you feed it different types of information the greater its capacity to store different types of information. If all you feed your brain is television then that’s all it can hold. So the real question is what is the best way to ensure that your brain has all the information it needs to make the best and safest decisions? Pre-Trip Your Pre-Trip is a vital tool for both safety and efficiency. Before you arrive for work you should have already determined whether you are healthy enough to operate a commercial vehicle. During your pre-trip you will check your truck, trailer, climate, topography, route, and traffic. With this information you should have a mental picture of what your trip will look like: Are you travelling through mountains, heavily congested areas, construction zones, or unfamiliar areas? You can check the weather for specific zip codes via the internet, and there are also topographical maps available as well. One of the most important aspects of the pre-trip is to trust yourself. If you feel that your cargo is not secure, top-heavy, weighted off balance, or in any way not perfect then don’t drive. If the tread on your tires is shallow don’t drive. If weather conditions are going to put you over your hours talk to your fleet manager. Be Aware of the Entire Vehicle Scan-Ahead driving requires you to look ahead at least 15 seconds, but as we’ve already discussed there is more to driving than just what is ahead of you. You need to be aware of as much of the environment around your vehicle as possible. The best way to do this is to create within you a set of thinking habits that become driving habits. Think of being able to see beside and behind your vehicle and utilize your mirrors. You should check your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds. Think about knowing what is around you and create the habit of making mental logs of pedestrians, parked vehicles, overhanging limbs or low signs and bridges. Think about what you can’t see and create the habit of noticing moving shadows that might indicate unseen pedestrians; school or hospital zone signs which may indicate unseen children or other people; or animal crossing signs or other signs of animals which may mean unseen animals are present. Don’t allow situations that can become barriers to your vision and therefore your awareness. Tractor trailers that are directly in front of you are nearly impossible to see around. Smaller vehicles that are tailgating you are nearly impossible to see. The best way to get out of these situations is to maintain a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. An average truck carrying a load travelling at 60 mph needs about six hundred feet to stop, and that translates into about seven seconds of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you (see Figure 2). The calculation seems erroneous because as soon as you start to slow down you are no longer travelling at 60 mph. As the above chart shows though you have to factor in elements such as the driver’s reaction time, brake lag (the 1-second delay between lifting your foot from the accelerator and placing it upon the brake), the vehicles braking distance (which takes into account the diminishing speed variable), and the extra one second for speeds above 50 mph. Using the same system we discussed above you should check that distance often. How do you get the driver from behind you? You may be tempted to speed up or quickly stab your brakes. Remember, your goal is safety, and speeding generally causes wrecks. If the vehicle behind you rear-ends you because you stabbed your brakes it may not technically be your fault, but don’t forget that by the new CSA 2010 regulations all accidents count against you. Besides, any accident has the potential to be deadly. It just isn’t worth it. The best and safest step is to lightly tap your brakes and begin to slowly reduce your speed until the vehicle comes out from behind you. If this does not work you may have to safely change lanes. Perception & Reaction Distance = feet travelled in 1.0 second. Brake Lag Distance = feet travelled in 0.4 seconds. Effective Braking Distance = feet travelled after Brake shoes contact the drums. Total Stopping Distance = Perception + Brake Lag + Effective Braking Distance. Assured Safe Non-Collision Stopping Distance = plus 2.0 seconds, speeds over 50 MPH add 1 additional second Stopping distances are approximate – Pavement condition, vehicle weight, tire tread surface, individual perception and reaction times all have impact on stopping distance IN SEVERE WEATHER (SNOW OR HARD RAIN) DOUBLE YOUR FOLLOWING DISTANCE AT 65 MPH IT TAKES OVER 2 FOOTBALL FIELDS TO STOP A TRACTOR TRAILER! Distractions Avoid activities that distract your focus from driving. Cell Phones: Never use a cell phone or text while you are driving. It’s against the law in some states, and it is just recklessly foolish and deadly. Conversations: There is nothing wrong with a normal conversation; oftentimes a good conversation can prevent you from the fixed or blank stare. The problem comes from the conversation that causes you to take your eyes or attention from the road. Radio: Same as above. Food: Never eat while you drive. Hands Free: You should not attempt to use your hands for anything but driving. As stated above don’t eat or use your cell phone while driving. But also, don’t try to read a map or written directions while driving. Apart from the obvious distraction, you may drop the item and be tempted to pick it up. Any item that needs to be picked up from the floor of your cab should remain there until your vehicle is completely stopped, out of gear, and the brake is engaged.  Use Other Vehicles as a Warning System Other vehicles that you can see may react to things that you cannot see. There may be a bend in the road where you are unable to see around it. Look for brake lights indicating potential sudden stops, or turn signals indicating sudden lane shifts. Also look for patterns in the traffic that indicate changes in the Operational Environment ahead.  Sift through Visual Input and Keep only what is Important As you change your focus every 2 seconds, scan at least 15 seconds ahead of your vehicle, check your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds, and maintain awareness of the entire vehicle at all times you may feel a bit overwhelmed with too much information. The purpose of all of this scanning for information is to discover potential hazards, so it’s important to try to take note of what is important and brush aside that which is not. It will take practice, but you can forget about the guy unloading the UPS truck at the Starbucks, but you’ll need to remember the guy jogging on the sidewalk with the ear-buds in his ears who keeps looking at the flow of traffic.

Avoid Fixed Stare You use 100% of your vision to gather as much information as possible Your decisions are based on: What you see ahead, behind, and beside you; What you know about the conditions ahead; and Signals from other vehicles such as brake lights and turn signals. As in Scan-Ahead Driving you will keep your eyes moving every two seconds, but this step allows for elements of your environment that are behind you, beside you and even elements that you cannot directly see. Utilize other driver’s behavior to signal you to things you cannot see. Scan-Ahead driving involves 100% of your concentration and making sure that your concentration is focused on where your vehicle is going rather than on only where it is. To do this you have to use as much of your vision as possible. What is meant by this statement?   The human eye has two types of vision: peripheral and central. Central vision is our focused vision, the vision in front of us; it’s what we can clearly see. A person with normal vision has a range of about 3 of clearly focused vision in front of him or her. Everything outside of that range is blurry at best. Peripheral vision describes all the perceived range of vision outside of one’s central vision. It encompasses about 180 in front of the eyes and excludes central vision. Within our peripheral vision we detect mostly shapes, colors, and movement. We use our peripheral vision as a sort of warning system because it tells us what’s out there without our having to focus on every detail. Peripheral vision gives us an overview while central vision gives us an intense focus on singular objects.

Avoid Fixed Stare Fixed Stare and Blank Stare: A fixed stare is a concentrated focus on a singular point, usually off in the distance; a blank stare is a concentrated focus on some inner point, or line of thought, while the person’s eyes appear focused on a singular object. Keeping your eyes moving or shifting every two seconds will ensure that you avoid these visual traps. Fixed Stare and Blank Stare   A safe decision is an informed decision, and the Professional Driver wants to make the most informed decision possible. The way to glean the most information out of your Operational Environment is to use your eyes, and you want to use as much of your visual potential as possible. You want to keep your eyes moving, shifting focus every two seconds. You want to avoid visual traps such as a fixed or blank stare. Both can occur if you stare at something for longer than 2 seconds. A fixed stare is a concentrated focus on a singular point, usually off in the distance; a blank stare is a concentrated focus on some inner point, or line of thought, while the person’s eyes appear focused on a singular object. A blank stare is different from fixed stare in that the former has a singular focus of attention while the latter has no real focus. The focus will be on what you are thinking rather than what you are seeing. A person with a fixed or blank stare appears lost in thought or, at times angry. They are relying solely on central vision and as such are limiting the amount of information from the eyes to process. Considering that the central vision’s range is 3 and the Professional Driver needs to be aware of 360 – or his or her entire operational environment – a driver with a fixed or blank stare is limiting his or her potential input of information by about 99%! One’s visual range, however, is limited to 180 of peripheral and central vision. Therefore, at 3, the fixed or blank stare is utilizing only about 2% of one’s visual range. Scan-Ahead driving demands that you utilize both types of vision with a technique that allows you to expand the scope of your central vision! The way in which you accomplish this feat is by shifting your focus, your central vision, every two seconds. If you simply stare ahead you will have an area of focus that is 3 in front of you, while what you need is 360 or the total scope of your Operational Environment.

Establish Eye Contact You broadcast your intentions. You are a predictable driver. You make every effort to ensure that other drivers are aware of your intentions. You are a deliberate driver who does not hesitate once a decision has been made. Driving is an interactive endeavor; we must have a degree of understanding as to what other drivers are going to do and they must have a similar amount of understanding of our intentions. If we are travelling in a straight line, in as much as the road continues straight, other drivers should have every reason to believe that we will continue to keep that direction. If we intend to alter our course or speed in any way other drivers should be made aware of that fact, and we should expect the same. However, in terms of safety, this is not a sacred contract; we cannot rely on it. There are obviously laws that allow us as a society to enforce these assumptions, but there is no way of guaranteeing them. That said, it is extremely important to do everything in our power as Professional Drivers to make sure that other drivers are aware of our intentions.   While human communication is mostly non-verbal, there is no unspoken way to guarantee that someone has understood your intent. Some people will look right at you and then drive their vehicle straight into your path. However, eye contact is the best way to broadcast intent. Human beings are extremely well-versed in communicating without words. It is a skill we often overlook. Try turning the sound down on your television and see how well you can follow conversations. Or try to tell what someone is thinking merely by watching their face (you may want to try this exercise in small doses; people might think you’re a little weird staring at them!). When you make eye contact with another driver you can be pretty sure that they see you, and if they see you it is a fair bet that you will be able to broadcast your intent. The point of making eye contact is to make sure that other drivers are aware of your intentions. Make sure that other drivers and pedestrians can see you. Your vehicle is big but people live in their own worlds and are often not paying attention. Make sure that your driving is deliberate rather than erratic. Don’t do anything suddenly; broadcast stops, turns, lane changes, and even slowing down. Assume that other vehicles don’t see you and that if they do, they don’t know what you’re about to do. Do everything you can to make sure that they do.

Establish Eye Contact Establish your intentions: Predictability Horn Headlights Brake Lights Turn Signals Predictability If we are predictable drivers then other drivers can more safely navigate the roads around us; we will be successfully broadcasting our intent to other drivers. Decisive Actions: If you are a driver who pulls part of the way into traffic and then changes your mind you cause problems not only to the flow of traffic into which you are attempting to merge, but the vehicle behind you will be maneuvering based on what he or she perceives to be your intent. Avoid indecision and Hesitation Ways to Ensure that Other Drivers Know Your Intentions   Horn: use your horn to let other drivers know you’re about to turn, change lanes, or any potentially risky behavior that requires other driver’s awareness. Do not over-use or misuse your horn, though. Your horn is meant to be a gentle reminder to other drivers of your presence. Do not use it to express anger or frustration. Headlights: A quick flicker of your headlights can be enough to tell a driver that you need to change lanes, it is their turn at a four-way stop, or many other messages. Content is key. Brake Lights: Lightly tapping your brakes a few times quickly can signal to drivers behind you that you intend to slow or stop soon. This technique is especially effective at night where the sudden presence of bright lights in the dark where there were none before can startle someone out of a blank stare reverie. Turn Signals: Use your turn signals well before you are turning. Their intent is to let other drivers know that you will be turning, not that you are in the process of turning. Be Predictable Oftentimes it can become a temptation while driving to think of it as a competition. You may be tempted to think of beating another driver to the next exit or the lane you want to be in as winning. The truth is that arriving at your destination safely, on time, without incident, and with your cargo intact is the only way you can win. Being predictable is a great way to ensure that you will not be the cause of any accident. Consider the bad drivers that you’ve seen (and we’re sure you’ve seen plenty!). What do they have in common? Right at the top of this list would most assuredly be erratic, unpredictable behavior. Drivers that signal left and suddenly turn right Drivers that stop or speed up suddenly Drivers that change lanes often and without warning We see these drivers and avoid them because we know that they will eventually be involved in an accident, and we do not want to be part of it. If we are predictable drivers then other drivers can more safely navigate the roads around us; we will be successfully broadcasting our intent to other drivers. They can feel confident that if we signal left we will be turning left, and if we have no turn signal or other indicator lights on then they will feel confident passing us. Take Decisive Action This way of broadcasting your intent is really part of being predictable. If you are a driver who pulls part of the way into traffic and then changes your mind, you cause problems not only to the flow of traffic into which you are attempting to merge, but the vehicle behind you will be maneuvering based on what he or she perceives to be your intent. Avoid indecision and hesitation. Take the decisive action necessary to drive safely and avoid crashes. Taking action also involves skill in execution and the confidence that comes from practice. By following the five steps of SAFER Driving, you improve your judgment. By practicing them on the road, you improve your skill. Conscientiously following these principles shapes our attitudes and helps us all drive maturely and safely.

Look for an Escape Route You have a path through traffic You know ahead of time what you will do in any given situation at any moment You are aware of Blind Spots You maintain a ‘Vehicle Buffer Zone’ You utilize proper following distance As much as you plan your trip you must plan your maneuverings through traffic. Know where you’re going to be in the next fifteen seconds all the time. When you see problems up ahead, know how you’re going to get through traffic to avoid them. Don’t allow yourself to be trapped.

Look for an Escape Route 3 Elements of an Escape Route: Buffer Zone - Leaving yourself room to maneuver through any traffic situation Blind Spots - areas to your left, right, and rear that cannot be seen by way of your side-view or bubble mirrors A Path Through Traffic - You should mentally create a path that you intend to follow to go through the traffic ahead of you that includes various obstacles, such as construction, shady patches, ice, snow or other weather-related issues, variances in road surface, etc Buffer Zone Traffic tends to move in clusters. You can avoid them by either trying to race past them (and increase your risk of an accident!), or you can utilize SAFER Driving and let the cluster move past you. The final step of the system is to look for an escape route. By name this step seems to imply that you should look for a way out only when you’re in a tight spot, or feel immediate risk. That is not what this step is about; it’s about being conscious of your entire Operating Environment, and knowing what you will do at all times. It’s about leaving yourself room to maneuver through any traffic situation; it’s about creating a buffer zone of safety around your vehicle so that danger will not touch it. Creating a Buffer Zone around your truck is about 100% awareness of the space around your vehicle. You do this by utilizing all of the above methods and incorporating them into one holistic approach to having a 3-dimensional image of your operational environment 100% of the time. As you are already utilizing the above steps you will have already created a buffer zone in front of and behind you. You are not tailgating (you have 6-7 seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you), and you have ensured that you do not have a vehicle behind you that you cannot see. Now you have to concentrate on the sides of your vehicle. Blind Spots Blind Spots are those areas to your left, right, and rear that cannot be seen by way of your side-view or bubble mirrors. US Xpress is now using Voyager and Side Tracker visual monitoring systems on all US Xpress trucks, but only on the right (passenger) side of trucks. Drivers who are in constant awareness of their Operational Environment will be aware of a vehicle before it enters into his or her blind spot and will make adjustments accordingly. SAFER Drivers will see the hazard before it happens. The safest way to remove a driver from your blind spot is to: Be aware of the vehicle before it enters your blind spot Use the Direct Look Technique for Lane Changes and passing Signal Check elliptical/spot and west coast mirror Check your Side Tracker or Voyager side-mounted camera system If no vehicle is sighted then lean forward, take a Direct Look to the right (cabover). Lean to right, look to right – (conventional) Move to right, and continue the Direct Look Look down and to the right as you enter the lane Let it pass you If it does not pass you in a reasonable amount of time adjust you speed down and let it pass you. Do not let a vehicle stay in your blind spot; you need to be aware of all vehicles around you at all times. As much as you can, try to clear the area 360 around your vehicle. If traffic does not allow for that kind of coverage then at least open up the space in front of you, and make sure that you are aware of all the vehicles around you as well as the space that you do not have. Know your blind spots! When driving in the city: Try to avoid the lane next to parked vehicles. People tend to step out of them into traffic without warning. When first in line at traffic stops give yourself plenty of room to see pedestrians walking in front of you. Create a Path through Traffic At all times you should have a mental picture of where you are going. You should mentally create a path that you intend to follow to go through the traffic ahead of you. This path should include all the various obstacles to avoid, such as construction, shady patches, ice, snow or other weather-related issues, variances in road surface, etc. This awareness of your path should be heightened in tightened conditions, such as heavy traffic. Avoid being trapped by the vehicle in front of you. Remember your Proper Following Distance.

SAFER Summary Safer Component Integration: Scan-Ahead Driving The Five Steps to SAFER Driving are not separate steps that you leave behind as you go from one to the next; they are each a foundation upon which the other steps rest. Looking for an Escape Route is impossible without an Awareness of your Operational Environment or Scanning Ahead. The system is an integrated one. It requires constant practice and vigilance. It requires an acceptance of the Ethics involved, and it requires an adherence to the Techniques. Scan-Ahead Driving Awareness of Operating Environment Avoid Fixed Stare Establish Eye Contact Look for Escape Routes Responsibility On becoming a driver of a Commercial Vehicle you have accepted a great responsibility. The world economy rests in large part on the ability to move goods from one part of the world to another. You are a principle component of that movement, and as such you bear a tremendous responsibility to the world to do your job efficiently. There are also millions of other drivers on the road both commercial and non-commercial. These drivers have mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, and all types of loved ones whose lives would be shattered by their loss. As drivers of massive vehicles whose potential for devastation is tremendous, you have a responsibility to every driver on the road (including you and your loved ones) to take safety very seriously. There is no greater task before you when you get behind that wheel than to arrive at your every destination safely, on time, and with your cargo intact. If you follow the guidelines laid down in SAFER Driving you will be well on your way to being a Professional Driver and accepting the tremendous responsibility inherent in that undertaking.