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Defensive Driver Training

Welcome!n Mel Iida – Sr. Loss Control Rep, Willis

Poolingn This is not a “how to drive” coursen It’s a “way to drive” coursen Not an expert in traffic lawn Emergency Exitsn Restrooms/Breaks/Cell Phones

TRAFFIC CRASHESLeading cause of work related fatalities!Leading cause of death for drivers 15 – 24!Leading cause of death from birth to age 34!

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How Safe Are Our Roads?Accident Data for Nevada

indicates:2007 2008

q 372 Fatalities 324q 258 Vehicle Occupants 198q 54 Pedestrians 57q 50 Motorcyclists 57q 10 Bicyclists 7q ?? Other 5

2009243156364074

So you thought it couldn’t happen to you?

Or maybe you weren’t even thinking about it at the

time?

Defensive Driving Means…n Making the best driving decisions.n Understanding the consequences

of your driving choices.n Reducing Stress when driving.n Driving to your destination incident

free.n Seeing hazards develop before

they become an emergency.

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Using…n Courtesyn Common Sensen Cooperation

Responsibility

What should I do to avoid a crash.

Other drivers may act quickly, but may act incorrectly.

Defensive Driving Techniquesn Scan ahead, around, and behind your

vehicle.n Check the mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds.n Use the “what if” technique to give yourself

an emergency “out”.n Look roughly 15 seconds ahead in your

direction of travel

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4 Killer Driving Habitsn Speedingn Failure to Yieldn Tailgating n Crossing Over the Center Line

Killer Habit Number 1

Speedingn Why Do We Speed???

n Late!n Flow of Traffic!n Emergency! n Like it!

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Why Do We Speed?n Nearly 1/3 Of Traffic Related Fatalities Can Be

Directly Attributed To The Speed Involved!

n # 1 Unsafe Driving Behavior!

n Costs In Fines And Crashes = Over 41 Billion Per Year!

Speeding!n How do you determine the Safe Driving

Speed?

nKnow The Speed Limit

nAssess The Driving Conditions

Avoiding the Speed Trap!n Use Time Management n Monitor Speed Regularly (Scanning Pattern,

Cruise Control)n Slow down in School Zones & Work Zonesn Slow Down to Let Tailgaters Pass (don’t be

pressured to go faster)

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X

1.5x

2 x

3 x

4 x

6 x

8 x

12 x

Killer Habit Number 2

Failure to Yield Right-Of-Way

n Failure to yield the right of way is the major cause of crashes in Nevada

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Intersectionsn Bad Places – 4 and 40

n Survey Says!n 30% ran red lightn 26% rolled stop sign

Take Your Time At The Lightsn Wait two secondsn Look Leftn Look Rightn Look Aheadn Look Left Againn Keep your foot on the Braken Safe and Clearn Accelerate slowly and smoothly

Cover The Braken Approaching Intersection...n Foot off Accelerator...Coastn Hover Foot Over the Brake

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Intersectionsn Blocked Vision Hazard

n What do you do?

Turns

n Correct Lane Well In Advance

n Use Signal (100’ – 300’)n Scann Slow Downn Yield Right Of Way

Turning Rightn Correct Lane Well In

Advancen Signaln Right Side

clearance?n Right To Rightn Pedestrians

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Turning Leftn Most Dangerous n Be In Correct Lane

Well In Advancen Signal and watch

oncoming driversn Yield To On-coming

Trafficn Allow time for

vehicles to clear the intersection

n Pedestrians, etcn Wheels

Killer Habit Number 3

Tailgating

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TAILGATING n Following Distance…n Three Factors Affect How Long It Takes

You To Stop!

n Perception Distance - 1 ¼ secondsn Reaction Distance - 3/4 secondn Braking Distance - ???

Stopping Distance

One, One Thousand…

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How To Safely Handle A Tailgatern Keep A Safe Space In Front, & Sidesn Slow Downn Increase Following Distance To 6

Seconds(3+3)n Allow Tailgater To Pass

Killer Habit Number 4

Crossing Over The Center Linen Passing

n First! Ask yourself.....

n Do I Really Need To Pass?

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Passingn 3 types of crashes can occur…n Sideswipen Run Off The Roadn Head On

Safe and Legal Passingn Keep your 3 second following distance!n Scan ahead, around and behind!n Use your left turn signal!n Swing out and accelerate to the posted speed limit!n When you see the front tires of the other vehicle on the

pavement in your rearview mirror, use your right turn signal and return to the lane!

n Maintain your speed after passing!

Drive to Stay Alive!n Avoiding Head-on Collisions

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Avoid the Head On Collision

n Decelerate. Drive to the Right. Use the Shoulder

n Drive…Don’t Swerve Off The Roadn Hit Something Soft, Not Hardn Hit With A Glancing Blow

Quick Quizn Before passing another vehicle, what

should you do first?

n Decide if it’s safe and legal.n Decide if it’s really necessary.

Seatbelts Save Lives

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Princess Diana’s Crash

Seat Beltsn 50% better chance of survival

n 4 times more likely to be ejected if not worn

n Hold you in your seat-control, human debris

Seatbelts Save Livesn 258 Nevada Fatalities In 2007n 122 of them were unbelted. n 61 people, would still be with us today if

they’d only buckled up.

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Reno Gazette-Journaln Around 2:30 a.m., a Dodge 4x4 vehicle was

traveling northbound on Eastlake Blvd. in Washoe Valley, when the 32-year-old male driver lost control of his vehicle near Freckles Ct. The sheriff's office said the vehicle crossed the roadway and into a field, causing it to roll twice. The driver and 21-year-old female passenger were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene.

n 5-10-08

Reno Gazette-Journaln Two people died early today north of Winnemucca when they

were ejected from a pick up and then were ran over by passing vehicles, the Nevada Highway Patrol reported.

n The accident happened about 3:30 a.m. on U.S. 95 about 70 miles north of Winnemucca, the NHP said.

n A red pickup truck was involved in a rollover accident and it ejected three people, the NHP said. Two people came to rest on the road and were “ran over by passing motorists after they were ejected,” the NHP reported in a statement.

n “It is unknown at this time if the occupants died as a result of the ejection, or the vehicle(s) running over them,” the NHP said.

n June 5, 2008

Quick Quizn In Nevada, child safety seats are

mandatory for kids under 6 years of age and under 60 pounds.

n Truen False

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Quick Quizn In Nevada, anytime an officer observes you

driving and not wearing your safety belt, they can pull you over.

n Truen False

OBJECTS TOO!n Struck-by incidents are a significant cause of workplace injuries and deaths

each year. Police in Surrey, British Columbia, say a 25-year-old woman was killed when she was struck in the back of the head and neck with her laptop computer.

n Heather Storey was on a business trip with her luggage in the back seat of her car when a tow truck collided with her, according to the CBC.

n Investigators say Storey would have survived the accident had it not been for her laptop.

n Her laptop was unsecured in the back seat at the time of the accident. Police believe the crash impact threw the laptop out of the back seat, striking Storey. She died of blunt force trauma to the back of her head.

n Storey’s brother, Michael Pratt, is warning others to take steps to avoid similar incidents.

n “Try not to keep stuff [in your car's back seat] that can get airborne or hit you, just because your family, and people that care about you, really will miss you when you’re gone,” Pratt said.

Impaired Drivingn Impaired Driving is Defined as...

n “driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs”

n Other drugs include:n Illegal drugsn Prescription drugsn OTC drugs

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By The Numbersn 40%n Fatal crashes involve alcoholn 3 in 10n Americans will be involved in a alcohol related crash during

their lifetimen 39%n Number of Work Related crashes involving alcoholn 9 in 10n Insurance companies that will automatically cancel policies of

convicted drivers

OTC/PRESCIPTION DRUGSn One in 5 fatalities involved drugs other than

alcoholn Synergistic effect

Quick Quizn If you have a Nevada Drivers License, you

have agreed to an alcohol test if the officer believes you are under the influence.

n Truen False

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Quick Quizn The illegal blood/breath alcohol

concentration for drivers over 21 in Nevada is…

n .10n .08n .30

Fatigue = Impairedn Reduced Reaction Timesn Unclear Decision Makingn Diminished Energyn Apathy

Just Plain Poopedn Majority of crashes happen between 12

noon and 8pm on Fridays!n Fatigue has been determined to be a factor

in:n 100,000 Police Reported Crashes Annuallyn 1/3 of Commercial Truck Fatalities

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Drowsy?n Can’t Remember Last Few Miles Driven n Can’t Focus/Eyes Close By Themselvesn Trouble Keeping Your Head Upn Can’t Stop Yawningn Wandering, Disconnected Thoughtsn Weavingn Jerky Movementsn Speeding Up/Slowing Downn Missing Turns/Exits

Your Best Defense!n Get Enough Restn Plan Rest Breaks Every 2 Hours/100 Milesn Plan Long Trips With A Companionn Don’t Keep Inside Of Vehicle Too Warmn Keep Windows Open Slightly n Power Nap

Distracted DrivingnWhat is a Driving Distraction?n It is an Event, Activity, Object or Person

that takes your attention away from the Driving Task!

nHow are we distracted? Name the ways…

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“ The relative risk of being in a traffic accident while using a cell phone is similar to the hazard associated with driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit”

Concentraten Always stay alert and focused on the

driving task.

A case in point…n An 18-year-old girl plowed directly into

the rear of another vehicle. She was going 70 mph.(106kph) She apparently didn't see them. You see, she was 'texting' at the time.....

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Here’s the message…n Just concentrate on the task at handn Please don’t drive while using any

mobile electronic device such as a cell phone, pager, CD player, radio, GPS unit

Special Conditions and Situations

NO ZONE

n Why risk it, avoid the NO ZONE!

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Crossing Railroad Tracksn 11 times more likely to be fataln Never drive around lowered

gatesn Expect a train when

approaching tracksn Never race a trainn Never stop on the tracksn Stalled on Tracks? Train

Coming?!

n Amber Lights?n Red Lights?n Exception?

School Busesn Cars in both

directions must stop

n Bus drivers can report violations of this law

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School Zonesn Traffic Controls in

School Zonesn Speed Limit either 15

or 25 mphn Flashing Yellow Lightsn Designation of Hours

Slow Down and Watch for Children!

Emergency Vehicles

Pull to right and stop

Move to right of lane or shoulder

Always slow down and cover the brake

“Move Over” Law

Nevada Traffic LawPedestrian Right of

Way Rules

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Pedestriansn 5900 killedn 70000 injuredn 50% at or between intersectionsn Most under 15 years old

Pedestriansn Use the what-if? techniquen Yieldn Do not wave them across the streetn Expect the Unexpected

Motorcycles and Other 2 Wheeled Hazards

n Be Aware of Motorcycles/Bicycles

n Harder to Seen Increase Following

Distance

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Construction Zonesn 50,000 workers injured or killed each yearn All were Preventablen Input Overloadn Slow Down and Obey Flaggersn Fines Doubled

Night Drivingn More Hazardousn ½ & ½n 500ft oncoming/300ft

followingn Don’t Outdrive

Headlightsn Windows/Mirrorsn Covers/Lenses Clean

Anti Lock Brake Systemsn Effective use of the system...

n Step on the brake pedal hardn Stay on brake until stopped/Hazard overn Don’t release or pump the brake pedaln Practice

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Aggressive Driving and Road Ragen Let them get ahead of

you-more controln Where do you go?n Don’t make eye contactn Ignore gestures and

refuse to return themn Do not challenge them by

blocking/speeding upn Report aggressive drivers

to the police

Before You Go Anywhereü Familiarize yourself with the vehicle:ü Know where the controls are located

and how they work:ü Make Adjustments before: seats,

mirrors, radio, head restraint, etc.ü Vehicle Manual:ü Hand Position:ü Use vehicles with respect:

Checklist for Your Vehiclen Check...n Brake lightsn Headlightsn Turn signalsn Tail lightsn Parking lightsn Back up lightsn Hornn Mirrorsn Wipersn Tires (tread, inflation and overall condition)

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Before You Go

nAre you driving with a valid Nevada Driver’s License in your possession?

Before You Gon Are you driving with a

valid registrationn Are you carrying the

certificate or photocopy?

n Are you insured?n Are you carrying proof

of insurance

Be Careful Out Theren Always lock your vehicle n Never leave the engine running if

unattendedn Always do a walk around-tires, damage etc.n Check interior before opening the door,

nighttime

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Accident? Incident?

n Accident – Refers to any collision involving a vehicle with a pedestrian, other vehicle(s), and /or other fixed or stationary objects, whether or not any physical damage or bodily injury occurs.

n Incident – Refers to non-accident personal injury or physical damage: i.e., vandalism, window or body damage from flying objects, lost or stolen vehicle parts or accessories, vehicle body damage from tire snow or chains, etc.

Accident? Incident?

When Something Goes Wrong

n Stop at Once-warn othersn Notify Police-Give exact locationn Render Aid if Injuries-911n Wait for police-don’t leave scenen Names, Addresses, license plate

#”sn Insurance infon Witnesses-fill out cardsn “Responsibility”-Give insurance

information card to other party

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What to do if you are stopped by Law Enforcement

n Stop your vehiclen Keep your hands in

plain viewn Wait for the officern Be courteous and don’t

argue

Final Thoughtsn Serious Business

n Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Distracted!!

n Always Wear Safety Belts!!!

n Drive Your Vehicle As Though Your Life Depends On It!!!!

FINAL EXAMn NAME & DATEn LEAVE TEST WITH INSTRUCTORn 70%