Driving Safety

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DRIVING SAFETY
Presented By Billy Tyler Adam Peterson
Rogers Water Utilities August 23, 2013
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Introduction
Whats the number one cause of fatalities in the
workplace? Falls? Getting hit by an
object? Being exposed to a harmful substance?
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Introduction
Its operating a motor vehicle.
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Introduction
The number one cause of work-related fatal
injuries is transportation incidents. Over 42,000
people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in
figures for the most recently available year,
with over 1000 being work related.
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Introduction
You may think that it wont happen to you. But
each one of these statistics is a person. Every
time you get behind the wheel you are at risk for
serious injury or death, and thats why traffic
safety is so important.
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WorkRelated Crashes

• 10-Year History of Work Related Crashes
• NIOSH, September 2003, by Stephanie Pratt
• Recommend Employer
• -Based Interventions
• Lets look at some other findings of the study

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WorkRelated Crashes

• Leading cause of occupational fatality
• More than 1,300 deaths /year between 1992 and
  2002
• Accounted for 23 of all occupational deaths in
  2000
• While other causes of occupational death
  decreased, crash fatalities increased steadily
  between 1992 and 1999

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Who is Involved?
Number of Work Related Deaths 1992-2000
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Who is Involved?
Age
Number of Work Related Deaths 1992-2000
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What Type of Crash?
Number of Work Related Deaths 1992-2000
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What Type of Crash?
Percent of Work Related Deaths 1992-2000
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Driver-Related Crash Factors

• Too Fast for Conditions
• Failure to Stay in Proper Lane
• Running Off the Road
• Inattention
• Failure to Yield Right of Way

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Safety Belt Use Among Crash Fatalities 1997 -
2002
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Potential Benefits of Belt Use

• Safety belts can save 1 of every 2 unbelted
  fatalities, so
• Of the 1,300 work related fatalities each year,
  about 2/3 are unrestrained (860)
• One half of these, or about 430 employees, could
  be saved each year.

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What Works?

• Education,
• followed by
• Policy Enforcement
• Increased Belt Use

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Other factors to remember..
When alcohol and driving are mixed, it can be a
lethal combination. Alcohol clouds judgment and
reduces reaction times, lowering the ability to
react quickly to driving situations and
increasing risk-taking behavior. Legal
consequences for drinking and driving are severe.
In many locales, penalties can include immediate
jail time, loss of license, and confiscation of
the vehicle.
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Other factors to remember..
In the U.S., excessive speed was a factor in 30
of all traffic deaths according to latest
statistics, second only to alcohol. Excessive
speed for conditions reduces the amount of time
available to avoid a crash, increases the
likelihood of a crash, and increases the severity
of a crash when it occurs. A combination of
causes, such as no seat belt while under the
influence of alcohol, multiplies the risk, making
the likelihood of injury or death in an accident
that much greater.
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Driving injuries - on or off the job

• The most hazardous environment
• For most of us, whether on or off the job, it is
  on the road.
• We face it daily.

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Unsafe acts behind the wheel

• Shaving
• Putting on make-up
• Reading a map
• Reaching behind you to spank kids
• Not using a seatbelt
• Driving under the influence

• Driving at an unsafe speed
• Failing to stop or yield
• Unsafe passing of another vehicle
• Tailgating
• Not using blinkers
• Others?

Though perhaps in a different category, eating
when driving and using cell phones can compromise
your response time by distracting you and by
removing one hand from the steering wheel.
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Driving under the influence (DUI)

• Alcohol was involved in 41 of all traffic
  fatalities in 06
• Sobering facts
• About 2 in every 5 Americans will be involved in
  an alcohol-related traffic accident at some time
  in their lives
• Remember the one-one rule one drink per hour
  (Your body takes about an hour to rid itself of
  each 1/2 ounce of alcohol)
• Progress in this arena
• A social stigma has been building against
  drinking driving
• Many social drinkers are being more responsible

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Road rage

• Road rage is driving under the influence of too
  much anger.
• Provoked by
• Feeling endangered by someone elses driving
  (another driver cuts you off or tailgates you).
• Resentment at being forced to slow down
• Righteous indignation at someone who breaks
  traffic rules
• Anger at someone taking out their road rage on
  you
• Therapy for road rage
• Take a deep breath and just let it go!

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Unsafe conditions

• Poor visibility
• Night time driving (Fatality rates/mile are 4
  times higher at night.)
• Dust storms
• Rain storms
• Windshield wipers not effective
• Poor road conditions
• Slippery surfaces from weather
• Road not properly maintained

• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Inadequate brakes
• Worn tread on tires
• Hoses, belts
• Inadequate acceleration
• Headlight(s) out
• Other?

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Prepare YOUR Vehicle.

• Maintain your car
• Check antifreeze, defroster, emergency signals,
  heater, lights, oil, tires, windshield washer
  fluid, and wiper blades
• Have emergency supplies in your car
• Blanket, jumper cables, first aid kit,
  flashlight, ice scraper, matches and a candle,
  sand/gravel, small shovel and a cellular phone

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Before You Drive

• Prior to driving in a winter storm
• Let your car warm up for a few minutes
• Clean the entire car before you begin to drive.
• Make sure all lights work and are clear of ice
  and/or snow.
• Clean ice and snow off your windshield wiper
  blades.
• Check horn, adjust mirrors, test brakes.

Do this BEFORE you leave home and/or the office
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Maintain SPACE
peed - The No. 1 cause of driving accidents is
driving to fast. atience and courtesy save
lives. wareness of other vehicles and your
environment is essential. oncentration - The
increased hazards of driving make this
important. xit - Always leave yourself an out.
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Safe Driving Skills

• Following Distance
• Normal (Dry Road) Driving - 3 seconds
• Winter Driving - 6 or more seconds
• Stopping Distance
• Rain - 50 more than dry
• Snow - 2x normal stopping distance
• Ice - 3x normal stopping distance
• Braking
• Gently tap and release brake pedal in a pumping
  motion
• Vehicles with ABS/disk brakes should apply
  steady, gentle pressure to the pedal - do not
  pump brakes.

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Safe Driving Skills

• Skids
• Front/rear wheel drive - Steer in the direction
  of skid
• Rear wheel drive - remove foot from accelerator
• Front wheel drive - continue to apply steady
  pressure on the accelerator
• As the vehicle comes out of the skid, straighten
  wheels or steer slightly in the opposite direction

Cars are expendable, LIVES are not!
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Safe Driving Skills

• Skids
• Front/rear wheel drive - Steer in the direction
  of skid
• Rear wheel drive - remove foot from accelerator
• Front wheel drive - continue to apply steady
  pressure on the accelerator
• As the vehicle comes out of the skid, straighten
  wheels or steer slightly in the opposite
  direction
• When Stuck
• Watch out for other cars!
• Shovel the snow from the front back of all
  wheels
• Try to ease out without spinning the wheels
• If this does not work try to rock the vehicle by
  shifting between forward and reverse.
• If all else fails - call for help!

Cars are expendable, LIVES are not!
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Vehicle safety features

• Daytime running lights
• (Headlights that are on whenever vehicle is
  running)
• Lap/shoulder safety belts
• Reduce risk of moderate-to-fatal injuries by
  approximately 50.
• Air bags for driver passenger
• Combined with lap/shoulder belts, they reduce
  risk of fatality by another 10.
• Side impact airbags
• Ability to disengage airbags

• Child safety seats
• Note Children in child seats should not be
  placed in the front seat of cars
• Anti-lock brakes
• Safety cages built into the vehicle framework
• If buying a new car, ask about side-impact
  collision data.
• Other?

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Did you know?

• When driving on a road that is new to you
• You eyes tend to scan the road from left to right
  which is an excellent driving habit.
• We tend not to scan when in familiar territory.
• How closely can you safely follow another car?
• We tend to follow based on how much of the road
  we can see
• A long hood causes us to follow at a greater
  distance (since you have to look over the hood to
  see the street).
• Drivers with shorter hoods tend to follow more
  closely
• Use the 3 second rule
• Good driving conditions, keep a 3 second distance
  behind
• Poor driving conditions, keep a 6 second
  distance behind

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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
Traffic safety is a two-way street. You can learn
basic skills for driving safely, but you are
responsible to use these skills every time you
get behind the wheel. Driving will always
involve some risk, but you can eliminate - or at
least reduce - the potential hazards through
simple, easy-to-master safe driving techniques
that well cover.
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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
When driving, the situation is always changing.
So, use "ACT" before starting your vehicle and
during your trip
A Assess the situation C Consider options to
limit risk T Take appropriate action
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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
For example, when the cell phone rings, use "ACT"
to decide what to do.
A Assess the situation. Heavy traffic? Poor
weather? No safe place to pull off?
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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
C Consider the options. Take the call and be
distracted? Let voice mail pick it up and get it
later? Let it ring?
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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
T Take the appropriate action. Since talking
on the phone while driving is a major
distraction, let voice mail pick it up. When
theres a good place to pull off the road, check
your message and return the call.
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Your Responsibility ForSafe Driving
Use your training, and keep in mind the long-term
benefits of safe driving. Always be aware that
motor vehicle incidents are the number one cause
of work-related fatalities.
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Now lets talk about - Driving Skills You Can Use
First, be aware of your own situation. Get your
mind on driving every time you take the
wheel. For example, if you are angry, your mind
is elsewhere so its easy to make a mistake or
be unaware of traffic hazards.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
If you are tired or under the influence of
alcohol, do not get behind the wheel. Communicati
on with other drivers is a big part of safe
driving. Signal your intentions early so others
will have time to react. Use your turn signals
eight to ten seconds before turning or changing
lanes. At a minimum, allow the signal to blink
three times before executing your move.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
Turn on your headlights before dusk and keep them
on long after sunrise. Use your headlights
in poor weather to make sure others can see
you. The way you interact with other drivers is
a major safe driving skill leave enough space
and avoid excessive speed for conditions. Excessi
ve speed for conditions is one of the most common
causes of traffic deaths. Know and obey posted
speed limits.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
Use the two second rule to keep at a safe
following distance. Pick out a stationary object
in the distance, like an overpass or a
sign. When the vehicle in front of you passes
the object, begin counting. For a safe following
distance you should be able to count one
thousand one, one thousand two before you pass
the same object. Just like speed, give yourself
more space in poor conditions. You may need to go
to the four second or six second rule.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
Finally, the key to safe driving is to always be
aware of everything around you front, back, each
side, above, and the road surface. Keep your eyes
moving staring at something for more than two
seconds increases your risk of crashing. Plan
where your vehicle will be in the next eight to
ten seconds and keep looking ahead for hazards.
In the city, be aware of whats happening at
least two blocks ahead. Remember, posted speed
limits are set for ideal conditions. Lower your
speed in poor weather, heavy traffic, and in
construction zones.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
Check your mirrors at least once every five
seconds. When you speed up, move your focus
farther down the road, and check your mirrors
more frequently speed decreases the time
youll have to react and your peripheral vision
will be a lot narrower.
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Driving Skills You Can Use
Limit cell phone use while driving, even if you
have a hands-free model. Keep incoming calls
short. Pull off the road into a parking lot or
other designated area to dial out. Remember,
using the phone while driving is a major
distraction. Cell phones should not be used when
refueling. A static spark from the phone could
cause gasoline vapors to ignite. Loading and
unloading a CD or cassette player, or finding a
radio station, is also a distraction. Keep your
focus on the road.
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Summary
When making driving decisions, remember the most
common driving risks. Always wear your seat
belt. No alcohol. Know and obey posted speed
limits. When speeding, you give yourself less
time to evaluate the situation and to make
decisions. Adjust your speed to conditions.
Weather, construction, and traffic congestion all
are signals for you to slow down. In poor
weather, youll need double or triple the
distance to stop.
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Be safebut have fun!
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DRIVING SAFETY QUIZ

• ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
• AOSH DIVISION
• ARKANSAS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
• 501-682-9091

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What are the three leading causes of fatal
accidents involving people in private vehicles?

1. Speed, alcohol and fatigue
2. Speed, alcohol and following too closely
3. Speed, alcohol and failure to use seat belts
4. Alcohol, fatigue and failure to use seat belts
5. Alcohol, fatigue and failure to yield the right
   of way

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If you drive with a blood alcohol concentration
of .08 percent you are driving under the
influence by law.
FALSE
TRUE
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An average 160-180 pound person begins to lose
his inhibitions and sense of judgment after
drinking just one beer in one hour or less.
FALSE
TRUE
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How many beers does the average 160-180 pound
person have to drink in one hour to reach a blood
alcohol concentration of .08 percent?
5
1
2
3
4
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• Alcohol consumption affects which of the
  following?
• Coordination and physical reflexes
• Reaction time
• Visual sharpness
• General awareness
• A B
• A through D

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The effects of alcohol wear off at a rate of
roughly one drink per hour.
FALSE
TRUE
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• Which of the following are signs of a drunk
  driver?
• Slow driving in the left lane
• Running over the curb
• Weaving
• No lights when needed
• All of the above

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If you identify a driver who may be alcohol
impaired, you should attempt to pass him and get
to a phone to call for help.
FALSE
TRUE
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Most other countries consider a driver to be
impaired or under the influence with a blood
alcohol concentration of between .03 and .05
percent.
FALSE
TRUE
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• Which of the following does NOT determine how
  alcohol will affect you?
• How fast you drink
• How much you weigh
• Whether you have eaten
• Mood and attitude
• Age and sex

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It is better to drink beer than booze because the
alcohol content of a 12-ounce beer is less than
one-and-a-half ounces of 80-proof booze.
FALSE
TRUE
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Once your blood alcohol concentration begins to
rise, you can sober up or reduce it with which of
the following?

• Time
• Eating
• Coffee
• Cold shower
• E.all of the above

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As you drive down most highways, it is estimated
that

1. One in five drivers is drunk
2. One in 20 drivers is drunk
3. One in 200 drivers is drunk
4. One in 500 drivers is drunk

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Association, wearing a combination lap/shoulder
belt cuts your chance of serious injury in an
accident by how much?

1. 10 percent
2. 20 percent
3. 40 percent
4. 50 percent or more

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Which of the following factors determines safe
driving speed?

1. The posted speed limit
2. Road and weather conditions
3. Time of day
4. Amount and type of traffic
5. A through D

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The best way to avoid an accident when you are
tired and traveling to a location you visit
frequently is to use the same route you always
use.
FALSE
TRUE
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Which of the following are good techniques to
avoid becoming fatigued while driving on long
trips?

1. Avoid driving during normal sleep hours
2. Ensure you are completely rested before
   departing
3. Plan at least a 15-minute rest stop every two
   hours
4. Limit driving to no more than 350 miles per day
   or no more than 8 hours on the road
5. All of the above

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On what days of the week do most fatal accidents
occur in which a driver in a private vehicle is
at fault?

1. Monday Friday
2. Wednesday, Thursday Friday
3. Friday, Saturday Sunday
4. Sunday Monday

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If you are driving and become sleepy, what can
you do?

1. Roll down windows to let the fresh air wake you
   up
2. Turn up the radio volume to help keep you alert
3. Turn the air conditioning all the way up so the
   cold air will wake you up
4. Stop and sleep
5. Any of the above

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Seat belts are not necessary if a car is equipped
with air bags.
FALSE
TRUE
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DRIVING SAFETY
THE END
Presented By Billy Tyler
Rogers Water Utilities August 16, 2013