Safe Driving Tips – The Basics

#1 Killer Accidents are the #1 KILLER of Americans under 40 years old

Don’t be a statistic  Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of employee injuries  Motor vehicle accidents are the leading killer of Americans at work

Who me???  You are responsible: –for your actions –to work safely when at your work place –when you are driving for your workplace

What if your driving caused this?

Overview  Vehicle maintenance  You’re Ready, Now Get Set  Defensive Driving –6 Most common reasons for auto crashes

Do you think about it?  Do you have your vehicle maintained regularly?  Do you check your tires on a regular basis?  Do you tend to put off maintenance?  Do you have an emergency kit in your vehicle?

Close your eyes and imagine:  When was the last time I checked my tires?  What would happen if I got a flat?  Are my taillights working? I can’t tell.  It’s drizzling, I forgot to replace my windshield wipers!  What if I broke down? I’d freeze to death before someone found me.  Music might help calm me down, where did I put that CD?

First things first Safe driving starts before you turn the ignition key. A well maintained vehicle is a safe vehicle 1.Ensure that the vehicle you operate is properly maintained 2.Inspect the vehicle daily 3.Have defects fixed immediately

Daily walk-around  Things can happen overnight –Check your tires –Check your lights –Check and clean windows and light covers –Turn your windshield wipers on to assure they are working. –Does the vehicle have an emergency kit?

Your vehicle is ready, now get set  Adjust: –Drivers seat –Steering wheel –Head restraints –Rearview and side mirrors  Assure: –You know where you are going, review, and have your map ready to go –You know where the controls are (windshield wipers, lights, flashers, inside light, etc.) –Lock the doors –All car documents are updated and reachable –Know if your car has anti-lock breaks and how to handle them –Tune the radio, CD’s, etc.  AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Click It, or Ticket  In passenger cars: –Reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45% –Reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50% –About 51% of people involved in fatalities in 2006 were not wearing their seatbelts  In light-trucks: –Reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60% –Reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 65%

 In fatal crashes in 2006, 75% of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed  28% of all fatal crashes involved ejection from the vehicle  Only 1% of the occupants reported to have been using restraints were totally ejected Click It, or Ticket

Worth noting  Most accidents occur within 25 miles of home or work at speeds of 40 mph or less

The Goal Keep your

Defensive driving  A way of driving where the driver takes every possible precautionary measure in order to prevent accidents or troublesome incidents from occurring.  “To reduce the risk of driving by proactively avoiding dangerous situations, despite adverse conditions and/or the incorrect actions of others.”

Six most common causes for automobile crashes 1.Distracted Drivers 2.Fatigued Drivers 3.Drunk Drivers 4.Speeding 5.Aggressive Driving 6.Weather

Wait – what am I doing, again?  Between 25 – 50% of all motor vehicle crashes in this country have driver distraction as their root cause.  Rubbernecking – accounts for 16% of all distraction-related crashes  Other common driver distractions include: –Driver fatigue (12%) –Looking at scenery (10%) –Other passengers or children (9%) –Adjusting the radio, cassette or CD player (7%) –Reading the newspaper, books, maps or other documents (less than 2%)  WAIT – There’s more

“Can you hear me now?”  More than 85 percent of the estimated 100 million cell-phone users talk on their phone regularly while driving  One study has found that driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time quadruples the risk of crashing

Get some rest!  Drowsy drivers account for about 100,000 accidents every year in the United States  The risk is greatest from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.

What to do?  Take a break from driving at least every two hours.  Get a good night's sleep before a long trip.  Share the driving whenever possible.  Avoid long drives after work.  Avoid drinking before driving.  Pull over and stop when drowsiness, discomfort, or loss of concentration occurs.  Find out whether any medicine you are taking may affect your driving.

DON’T DRINK & DRIVE  In 2006, an estimated 17,602 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, an average of one death almost every half-hour.  Drunk drivers were also responsible for 278,000 injuries  41% of all fatal crashes involved alcohol

What’s Blood Alcohol got to do with it?  BAL of 0.10 – drivers are 12 times as likely to be in an accident as non-drinking drivers.  BAL of 0.15 – 380 times as likely  BAL of 0.05 – Still 2 times as likely “Driving tipsy is driving drunk.”

Speed Kills  Speeding is responsible for 30% of all fatal crashes.  Over half of fatal crashes in 2006 occurred on roads with posted speed limits of 55 MPH or higher  Speeding is the main reason 2 out of 3 fatal accidents occur on rural highways.

A 3-tiered threat  Reduces the amount of time necessary to avoid a crash  Increases the risk of crashing  Makes the crash more severe if it does happen –when speed increases from 40 mph to 60 mph, the energy released in a crash more than doubles.

Take a “Chill Pill”  Aggressive drivers cause 1/3 of all traffic crashes  Exactly what is an aggressive driver? –“Operates a motor vehicle in a selfish, bold or pushy manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the streets and highways.”

Including:  Aggressive tailgating  Deliberately preventing another driver from moving their vehicle  Disregarding traffic signals  Changing lanes frequently or in an unsafe manner  Failure to yield the right of way  Aggressive or rude gestures  Verbal abuse and/or physical assaults

Protect yourself  Remain calm.  Keep your distance.  Make every attempt to get out of their way, give them room.  Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to keep up.  Wear your seat belt.  Be prepared for any abrupt or sporadic maneuvers by the aggressive driver.  Avoid eye contact.  Ignore gestures and refuse to acknowledge them.  Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing vehicle and driver description, license number, location of incident, and direction of travel.

And now for weather where you are.  Don’t panic.  Plan ahead.  Make sure you can see and be seen.  Slow down.  Be sure to leave extra room between the car in front of you.  No Cruise Control on wet pavement.  Press the brake gently.  If necessary, pull off the road to a rest stop until conditions improve.  Don't drive into standing water.

In Summary  Maintain your vehicle  Make all the necessary adjustments prior to getting on the road  Practice defensive driving at all times  Remember the 6 most common causes of automobile crashes and avoid those actions