1. Driving Safely A 39 page presentation

2. We may not all be “professional drivers”, but most of us drive everyday. Driving may be a critical part of our daily lives. Most accidents are caused by one of four “Human Factors”: Distraction Distraction Frustration Frustration Fatigue Fatigue Alcohol/Drug Use Alcohol/Drug Use

3. When we are driving, distraction can come in many forms: Eating. Eating. Reading a map. Reading a map. Talking on the phone. Talking on the phone. Pulling over to do these types of things. Pulling over to do these types of things.

4. Stress, frustration or anger can cause you to lose focus. Stress, frustration or anger can cause you to lose focus. If you feel out of control, pause and count to ten. If you feel out of control, pause and count to ten. If you feel drowsy, open a window or turn the radio on. If you feel drowsy, open a window or turn the radio on. If necessary, find a rest stop and take a break. If necessary, find a rest stop and take a break. Staying calm and alert is also critical for safe driving:

5. Driving Preparation Inspect vehicle before starting out. Inspect vehicle before starting out. Become familiar with operating a van. Become familiar with operating a van. Check for basic emergency gear. Check for basic emergency gear. Listen to the weather report. Listen to the weather report.

6. Check tires for proper inflation. Check tires for proper inflation. Check tires for adequate tread. Check tires for adequate tread. Check headlights and directional flashers. Check headlights and directional flashers. Replace any burnt out bulbs immediately. Replace any burnt out bulbs immediately. Inspect your tires before you start out:

7. All vehicles should be equipped with basic emergency gear: A spare tire, jack and tire iron. A spare tire, jack and tire iron. Jumper cables. Jumper cables. Flashlight. Flashlight. First aid kit. First aid kit. Motor oil and warning markers may also come in handy. Motor oil and warning markers may also come in handy.

8. Adjust the seats so you feel comfortable and can firmly reach the pedals. Adjust the seats so you feel comfortable and can firmly reach the pedals. Position the mirrors to reduce “blind spots”. Position the mirrors to reduce “blind spots”. Vans and trucks often have special considerations. Vans and trucks often have special considerations. Since people come in different shapes and sizes, you need to make the vehicle suit your body:

9. Go for a test drive in a parking lot first. Go for a test drive in a parking lot first. Check blind spots before backing up. Check blind spots before backing up. Test both the steering and brakes. Test both the steering and brakes. Keep in mind - larger, heavier vehicles make wider turns and require more stopping distance. Keep in mind - larger, heavier vehicles make wider turns and require more stopping distance. Every vehicle handles a little differently, so become familiar with the vehicle you are driving before entering traffic:

10. Wear a seat belt at all times. Wear a seat belt at all times. Obey all speed limits and traffic signs. Obey all speed limits and traffic signs. Signal all turns and lane changes early. Signal all turns and lane changes early. Keep your eyes on the road. Keep your eyes on the road. Remain calm. Remain calm. Basic Driving rules

11. It prevents you from smashing into the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. It prevents you from smashing into the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. It may help prevent internal injury to your organs and skeletal system. It may help prevent internal injury to your organs and skeletal system. When wearing a seatbelt, you are twice as likely to survive a crash. When wearing a seatbelt, you are twice as likely to survive a crash. Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most important safety issues when driving a vehicle. In an accident:

12. Signs and other indicators are designed to make driving less dangerous for all of us: Obey all speed limit and traffic signs. Obey all speed limit and traffic signs. Especially important to drive at or below posted limits for winding roads or those with turns which are not safe at high speeds. Especially important to drive at or below posted limits for winding roads or those with turns which are not safe at high speeds. Solid lines down the center of the road mean “Do Not Pass”. Solid lines down the center of the road mean “Do Not Pass”. Broken lines mean “Pass With Care”. Broken lines mean “Pass With Care”.

13. “Defensive Driving” includes keeping your eyes on the road and watching for trouble in all directions: Look for brake lights several cars ahead. Look for brake lights several cars ahead. Keep a “safety cushion” (empty space) around your vehicle at all times. Keep a “safety cushion” (empty space) around your vehicle at all times.

14. The “Four Second Rule” will help you maintain a safe following distance: When the vehicle ahead of you passes a landmark, count how many seconds it takes you to reach that same point. When the vehicle ahead of you passes a landmark, count how many seconds it takes you to reach that same point. If it is less than four seconds, you are following to close. If it is less than four seconds, you are following to close.

15. It is especially important not to tailgate a truck: A truck will block more of the your view of the road ahead. A truck will block more of the your view of the road ahead. If you are too close, the trucks brake lights will be the only warning of trouble ahead. If you are too close, the trucks brake lights will be the only warning of trouble ahead. Adjust your following distance to see around the truck (this allows you more time to react). Adjust your following distance to see around the truck (this allows you more time to react).

16. The open area beside your vehicle is called “Side Space”: Maintaining this cushion gives you more room to maneuver if another vehicle drifts into your lane. Maintaining this cushion gives you more room to maneuver if another vehicle drifts into your lane.

17. Watch out for “buffeting” when trucks pass: They create wind currents which can push your vehicle off course. They create wind currents which can push your vehicle off course. Maintaining ample side space can minimize this problem. Maintaining ample side space can minimize this problem.

18. Keeping a proper safety cushion also means paying attention to the vehicle behind you: Periodically check your mirror and “blind spots” to be alert for traffic around you. Periodically check your mirror and “blind spots” to be alert for traffic around you.

19. Someone tailgating you can be dangerous: Your vehicle could be rear-ended if you brake suddenly. Your vehicle could be rear-ended if you brake suddenly. Never increase speed to satisfy a tailgater. Never increase speed to satisfy a tailgater. Reduce speed and let them pass. Reduce speed and let them pass.

20. Passing another vehicle can also reduce your risk of an accident: Check the road to see if there is adequate passing room. Check the road to see if there is adequate passing room. Turn on your signal before you pull out of your lane. Turn on your signal before you pull out of your lane. Do not linger in another driver’s blind spot. Do not linger in another driver’s blind spot. Pass quickly, but do not cut off another vehicle when pulling into their lane. Pass quickly, but do not cut off another vehicle when pulling into their lane.

21. Trucks have larger blind spots and require more distance to stop than cars: It takes longer to pass a truck. It takes longer to pass a truck. Do not drive beside a truck for a long time. Do not drive beside a truck for a long time. Never cut off a truck when moving back into their lane. Never cut off a truck when moving back into their lane. A loaded rig traveling at 50 miles-per-hour needs 300 feet to stop…..the length of a football field. A loaded rig traveling at 50 miles-per-hour needs 300 feet to stop…..the length of a football field.

22. Driving conditions will dictate how to safely handle your vehicle: Make concessions for the weather. Make concessions for the weather. Listen to the radio for information on weather and delays. Listen to the radio for information on weather and delays. Allow extra time to reach your destination. Allow extra time to reach your destination. Alternate routes may be necessary. Alternate routes may be necessary.

23. “Visibility” is being able to see and be seen by others. Make sure important parts of your vehicle are clean and clear, including the: Windshield. Windshield. Headlights. Headlights. Taillights. Taillights. Turn signals. Turn signals.

24. Exercise caution on slippery roads: Reduce speed. Reduce speed. Increase following distance. Increase following distance. Slow down before turns. Slow down before turns. Apply break sooner. Apply break sooner. Brake slowly. Brake slowly. Avoid puddles and icy patches. Avoid puddles and icy patches.

25. Drive in second or third gear rather than first or low.  Engage the clutch gradually (or in d2; or high, with automatic transmission)  Accelerate no more than necessary to keep from stalling. Avoid Quick Acceleration On Slick Roads. It Will Cause You To Skid. Operating on Snow and Ice

26. Black Ice Dangerous…Because You Can’t See It! Commonly found under bridges,overpasses, and shady spots Dangerous…Because You Can’t See It! Commonly found under bridges,overpasses, and shady spots

27. Reaction  Do Not Panic!  Make No Sudden Changes In Speed/Direction!  Ease Off Accelerator!  Steer In Direction That The Rear Of The Vehicle Is Skidding! Black Ice

28. Hills And Grades When approaching a hill or upgrade/downgrade, remember to do the following : Select the proper gear before approaching, usually a lower gear. Use the same gear going down that you used going up. This will allow the engine to act as a brake, so you will not have to use your brake excessively. * On steep or very slippery grades, use at least one gear lower, and decrease speed *

29. Dusk and dawn are the most dangerous times to drive : It is too dark to see clearly. It is too dark to see clearly. But there is too much light for headlights to be effective. But there is too much light for headlights to be effective. Turning on your headlights allows the other driver to see you. Turning on your headlights allows the other driver to see you.

30. At night, the farther you can see, the more time you will have to react to trouble: Use high beams as often as possible. Use high beams as often as possible. Use low beams when behind other vehicles, facing on- coming traffic, or driving in snow or fog. Use low beams when behind other vehicles, facing on- coming traffic, or driving in snow or fog.

31. Remember to reduce your speed when using low beams: You cannot see as far, so there is less time to react. You cannot see as far, so there is less time to react. Slowing down gives you more reaction time. Slowing down gives you more reaction time.

32. No matter how carefully we drive, sometimes the unexpected happens. Act fast, but remain calm and in control of the situation. Act fast, but remain calm and in control of the situation.

33. An icy patch could cause one or more wheels to lose contact with the road: Momentum takes over and your vehicle begins to skid. Momentum takes over and your vehicle begins to skid. Do not slam on the brakes. Do not slam on the brakes. Ease your foot off the gas pedal. Ease your foot off the gas pedal.

34. Compensate for skidding by steering in the direction of the skid. If the back of the vehicle skids to the right, steer to the right. If the back of the vehicle skids to the right, steer to the right. Steer to the left if the back skids to the left. Steer to the left if the back skids to the left.

35. When the roads are wet, tire tread channel water out of the way. As speed increases and more ground is covered, tires need to channel more water. As speed increases and more ground is covered, tires need to channel more water. At high speeds even small puddles can overpower the treads, causing, “hydroplaning”. At high speeds even small puddles can overpower the treads, causing, “hydroplaning”. When this happens, tires lift completely off the road surface. When this happens, tires lift completely off the road surface. Do not brake. Instead ease off of the gas pedal. Do not brake. Instead ease off of the gas pedal.

36. A “blow-out” is a rapid loss of air from your tire. Increased friction pulls the vehicle toward the side of the blow-out. Increased friction pulls the vehicle toward the side of the blow-out.

37. If a blow-out occurs: Do not hit the breaks (the vehicle will “pull” more violently). Do not hit the breaks (the vehicle will “pull” more violently). Accelerate to reduce the pull to the side. Accelerate to reduce the pull to the side. Keep a firm grip on the wheel. Keep a firm grip on the wheel. Steer to the side opposite the blow-out. Steer to the side opposite the blow-out. Slow down and turn on your hazard flashers. Slow down and turn on your hazard flashers. Pull over to a safe, level area to fix the tire. Pull over to a safe, level area to fix the tire.

38. What to do if an accident occurs: Off Campus: Contact the police. Contact the police. Do not leave the scene. Do not leave the scene. Exchange important information. Exchange important information. Report accident to supervisor. Report accident to supervisor. Supervisor reports accident to Risk Management. Supervisor reports accident to Risk Management.

39. Review Accidents are the number one cause of death on the job. Accidents are the number one cause of death on the job. Driving safely is not just for professionals. Driving safely is not just for professionals. Stay focused, alert and sober when driving. Stay focused, alert and sober when driving. Take time to inspect your vehicle and learn how it handles. Take time to inspect your vehicle and learn how it handles. Always wear your seat belt. Always wear your seat belt. Obey speed limits, traffic signs and signals. Obey speed limits, traffic signs and signals. Make allowances for poor road conditions. Make allowances for poor road conditions. Know how to handle your vehicle in emergencies. Know how to handle your vehicle in emergencies.