Defensive Driving Part I - RLI Corp.

Defensive DrivingPart I

Defensive Driving Leads To CrashPrevention2

What is Defensive Driving? As defined in the NationalSafety Council’s DefensiveDriving Course ‘DefensiveDriving’ is: “Driving to savelives, time and money, inspite of the conditions aroundyou and the actions ofothers.” As professional drivers youmust be prepared tocompensate for changingroad conditions, weather andother drivers’ bad drivingdecisions.3

Defensive Driving Techniques#1 Seat Belt Number one on the list ofdefensive driver techniques isthe use of your own seat belt A high percentage of truckdriver fatalities involve adriver being ejected from thevehicle In order to drive defensively,you must remain behind thewheel of your vehicle to bettercontrol any type of drivingsituation4

Center for Disease Control (CDC)Recent ReportMorbidity and Mortality WeeklyReport Findings March 3, 2015 In a recent report released bythe CDC, the following findingswere outlined: Non-use of seat belts by longhaul-truck-drivers (LHTDs),continues to be the leading causeof occupational fatalities in theUnited States It accounts for 25% of alloccupational fatalities It adversely affects the UnitedStates economy5

CDC Report FindingsMorbidity and Mortality WeeklyReport Findings There were over 317,000motor vehicle crashesinvolving large trucks in 2012 Cost estimates for these truckand bus crashes will haveaffected our economy here inthe U. S. by nearly 99 billiondollarsSeat Belt Usage Everyone acknowledges thatseat belts save lives However, statistics gatheredfrom the reported accidentsindicated that one out of everythree truck drivers who died ina crash were not wearing theirseat belts For many of these drivers,simply buckling up would havesaved their lives6

CDC Report Findings As part of the preliminary findings used in the CDC report, a Longhaul-truck-driver survey was completed involving 1,265 drivers The survey consisted of an interview study wherein drivers spokedirectly to the interviewer Results of the interview study: Roughly 86% of the drivers reported using a seat belt A little over 7% of the drivers used their seat belts sometimes While 6% of the drivers stated they never used their seat belts7

CDC Report Findings Driver’s who reported never using their seat belts also stated thatthey: Worked for a company that had no written safety program Often drove more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit Had received two or more citations for moving violations in the previous 12month period Lived in a state which had no primary seat belt law8

Defensive Driving Techniques –#2 Safety Culture & Practices Statistics indicate that truckdrivers operate in a relativelysafe manner As truck drivers you need tobe aware of the capabilities ofthe vehicle we are driving A larger vehicle requires: A greater turning radius A greater distance to stop More space within its lane oftravel9

#2 Safety Culture & Practices Most passenger vehicle driversspend a short period of their daybehind the wheel of a motorvehicle and are consideredrecreational drivers Professional drivers spend mostof their day on the road As professional drivers, youneed to be aware of changingweather conditions, trafficcongestion, and must remaindiligent while driving10

#2 Safety Culture & Practices There is no room in thetrucking industry for driverswho do not respect laws, safedriving practices or the abilityto respect other drivers Drivers must be satisfied thatthe commercial motor vehiclethey are driving is in a safecondition11

#2 Safety Culture & Practices A complete and thorough Preand Post-Trip inspection are amust A driver must review thevehicle’s previous post-tripinspection Sign the previous report toacknowledge that any repairsindicated have taken place asrequired12

Defensive Driving Techniques#3 Speeding Speeding continues to be afactor in Crash Involvement In inclement weather or anyadverse driving situation slowdown Speed on wet roads shouldbe reduced by 1/3 of theposted speed limit13

#3 Speeding Remember, as it first begins torain, that water mixes with the oilon the roadway and decreasesyour vehicles traction andstopping capability Reduce your speed by 1/2 ormore on snow packed roads When you encounter icy andslick roads drive with caution,reduce your speed even moreand pull off the road in a safelocation when it is no longer safeto drive14

Defensive Driving Techniques#4 Fatigue Even the best drivers battlefatigue issues Signs of fatigue include: Constant yawningSeeing objects on the roadwaythat aren’t thereInvoluntary closing of eyesNot remembering how youarrived at your current locationBlurred vision15

Defensive Driving Techniques#4 FatigueFatigue preventionShort term solutions: CoffeeEnergy drinks Long term solutions: As a driver you must obtainquality sleepTake a short breakA short break provides a greatopportunity to walk around yourvehicle to ensure it’s continuedsafe operation16

Defensive Driving Techniques#4 Fatigue Most important factor is toproperly manage fatigue Pull off the road in a safelocation, stop driving andobtain the rest your bodyneeds There is no substitute forquality sleep17

Defensive Driving Techniques#5 Driving BehaviorsTwo types of DrivingBehaviors1. Planned behaviors Control speed in one ofthree ways AccelerationDecelerationMaintain a steady speedrate18

Defensive Driving Techniques#5 Driving BehaviorsTwo types of DrivingBehaviors1. Planned behaviors Direction control Stop behind solid whiteline at intersections,don’t block pedestrianlane Allow a four-secondfollowing distance19

Defensive Driving Techniques#5 Driving BehaviorsTwo types of DrivingBehaviors2. Unplanned behaviors Those not recognized priorto actual behavior Unplanned responses tochanging driving situations Animals on roadway Unprepared drivingresponses20

Defensive Driving Techniques#6 Searching as You Drive Observe the roadway in frontof your vehicle looking for allsources of fixed and potentialhazards Watch for brake lights – theymay signal hazards ahead Search determines what mustbe seen, where the risk maybe and where interactionswith traffic will occur21

Defensive Driving Techniques#6 Searching as You Drive Searching as you driveprovides what we need toknow so we can respond andnot react to the traffic situation(situational awareness) Situational awarenessprovides numerous bits ofinformation to process so weknow what is going on aroundus We must: Perceive what the risks areAnalyze the riskFormulate a responseAnd we must initiate thatresponse all within a matter of asplit second If you don’t see it, you can’trespond to it22

Defensive Driving Techniques#6 Searching as You Drive Examples of fixed hazards: Utility polesCurves in the roadGuardrailsBridge abutmentsRailroad tracks (etc.)23

Defensive Driving Techniques#6 Searching as You Drive Examples of potentialhazards DrivewaysPedestriansCyclistsOther vehiclesParked cars Be aware of yoursurroundings and plan yourdriving behavior appropriately24

Defensive Driving Techniques There are many otherdefensive driving techniquesand more will be included inthe Defensive Driving Part IIpresentation These driver safetypresentations have beendeveloped through theCommercial Vehicle SafetyAlliance (CVSA) “OperationSafe Driver” Programprovided through a grant byFMCSA25

Operation Safe Driver Mission Improve commercial and non-commercial driver behavior andperformance through effective enforcement, education andawareness strategies. Message Improving highway safety for commercial vehicle operationsstarts with the driver. Highway crashes related to large trucks and buses account for12 percent of the total highway fatal crashes. Focusing more attention on commercial and non-commercialdrivers operating in an unsafe manner around commercialvehicles will save lives.26

Outreach Training program(s); which include fiveTrain-the-Trainer Kits that contain five separatePowerPoint presentations, between 25 to 35minutes each on the followingsubjects1) Defeating Distracted Driving2) Beyond Distracted Driving3) Following the Rules of the Road4) Defensive Driving/Driver Review I5) Defensive Driving/Driver Review II27

Web Site www.operationsafedriver.com Access to files for downloading Train-the-Trainer Kits (5) Defeating Distracted Driving Beyond Distracted Driving Following the Rules of the Road Defensive Driving/Driver Review Part I Defensive Driving/Driver Review Part IIDVDs (2) Defeating Distracted Driving New Entrant DriversAll training materials provided at no cost and available to meetyour individual training needs28

Thanks foryour time!www.operationsafedriver.com29

What is Defensive Driving? As defined in the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course 'Defensive Driving'is: "Driving to save lives, time and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others." As professional drivers you must be prepared to compensate for changing road conditions, weather and