Defensive Driver Training
Welcome! n
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Mel Iida – Sr. Loss Control Rep, Willis Pooling This is not a “how to drive” course It’s a “way to drive” course Not an expert in traffic law Emergency Exits Restrooms/Breaks/Cell Phones
TRAFFIC CRASHES Leading 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 324 q 258 Vehicle Occupants 198 q 54 Pedestrians 57 q 50 Motorcyclists 57 q 10 Bicyclists 7 q ?? Other 5
2009 243 156 36 40 7 4
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 n
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Making the best driving decisions. Understanding the consequences of your driving choices. Reducing Stress when driving. Driving to your destination incident free. Seeing hazards develop before they become an emergency.
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Using… n n n
Courtesy Common Sense Cooperation
Responsibility What should I do to avoid a crash. Other drivers may act quickly, but may act incorrectly.
Defensive Driving Techniques n
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Scan ahead, around, and behind your vehicle. Check the mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds. Use the “what if” technique to give yourself an emergency “out”. Look roughly 15 seconds ahead in your direction of travel
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4 Killer Driving Habits n n n n
Speeding Failure to Yield Tailgating Crossing Over the Center Line
Killer Habit Number 1
Speeding n
Why Do We Speed??? n n n n
Late! Flow of Traffic! Emergency! 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!
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# 1 Unsafe Driving Behavior!
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Costs In Fines And Crashes = Over 41 Billion Per Year!
Speeding! n
How do you determine the Safe Driving Speed? n Know The Speed Limit n Assess The Driving Conditions
Avoiding the Speed Trap! n n n n
Use Time Management Monitor Speed Regularly (Scanning Pattern, Cruise Control) Slow down in School Zones & Work Zones Slow Down to Let Tailgaters Pass (don’t be pressured to go faster)
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X 1.5x 2x 3x 4x 6x 8x 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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Intersections n
Bad Places – 4 and 40
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Survey Says! n n
30% ran red light 26% rolled stop sign
Take Your Time At The Lights n n n n n n n n
Wait two seconds Look Left Look Right Look Ahead Look Left Again Keep your foot on the Brake Safe and Clear Accelerate slowly and smoothly
Cover The Brake n n n
Approaching Intersection... Foot off Accelerator...Coast Hover Foot Over the Brake
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Intersections n
Blocked Vision Hazard n
What do you do?
Turns n n n n n
Correct Lane Well In Advance Use Signal (100’ – 300’) Scan Slow Down Yield Right Of Way
Turning Right n n n n n
Correct Lane Well In Advance Signal Right Side clearance? Right To Right Pedestrians
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Turning Left n n n n n
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Most Dangerous Be In Correct Lane Well In Advance Signal and watch oncoming drivers Yield To On-coming Traffic Allow time for vehicles to clear the intersection Pedestrians, etc Wheels
Killer Habit Number 3
Tailgating
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TAILGATING n n
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Following Distance… Three Factors Affect How Long It Takes You To Stop! Perception Distance - 1 ¼ seconds Reaction Distance - 3/4 second Braking Distance - ???
Stopping Distance
One, One Thousand…
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How To Safely Handle A Tailgater n n n
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Keep A Safe Space In Front, & Sides Slow Down Increase Following Distance To 6 Seconds(3+3) Allow Tailgater To Pass
Killer Habit Number 4
Crossing Over The Center Line n
Passing n
First! Ask yourself.....
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Do I Really Need To Pass?
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Passing n n n n
3 types of crashes can occur… Sideswipe Run Off The Road Head On
Safe and Legal Passing n n n n n
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Keep your 3 second following distance! Scan ahead, around and behind! Use your left turn signal! Swing out and accelerate to the posted speed limit! 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! Maintain your speed after passing!
Drive to Stay Alive! n
Avoiding Head-on Collisions
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Avoid the Head On Collision n
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Decelerate. Drive to the Right. Use the Shoulder Drive…Don’t Swerve Off The Road Hit Something Soft, Not Hard Hit With A Glancing Blow
Quick Quiz n
Before passing another vehicle, what should you do first?
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Decide if it’s safe and legal. Decide if it’s really necessary.
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Seatbelts Save Lives
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Princess Diana’s Crash
Seat Belts n
50% better chance of survival
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4 times more likely to be ejected if not worn
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Hold you in your seat-control, human debris
Seatbelts Save Lives n n n
258 Nevada Fatalities In 2007 122 of them were unbelted. 61 people, would still be with us today if they’d only buckled up.
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Reno Gazette-Journal n
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.
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5-10-08
Reno Gazette-Journal n
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.
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The accident happened about 3:30 a.m. on U.S. 95 about 70 miles north of Winnemucca, the NHP said.
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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.
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“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.
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June 5, 2008
Quick Quiz n
In Nevada, child safety seats are mandatory for kids under 6 years of age and under 60 pounds.
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True False
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Quick Quiz n
In Nevada, anytime an officer observes you driving and not wearing your safety belt, they can pull you over.
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True False
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OBJECTS TOO! n
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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. 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. Investigators say Storey would have survived the accident had it not been for her laptop. 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. Storey’s brother, Michael Pratt, is warning others to take steps to avoid similar incidents. “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 Driving n
Impaired Driving is Defined as...
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“driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs”
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Other drugs include: Illegal drugs Prescription drugs OTC drugs
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By The Numbers n
40%
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Fatal crashes involve alcohol
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3 in 10
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Americans will be involved in a alcohol related crash during their lifetime
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39%
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Number of Work Related crashes involving alcohol
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9 in 10
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Insurance companies that will automatically cancel policies of convicted drivers
OTC/PRESCIPTION DRUGS n
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One in 5 fatalities involved drugs other than alcohol Synergistic effect
Quick Quiz n
If you have a Nevada Drivers License, you have agreed to an alcohol test if the officer believes you are under the influence.
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True False
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Quick Quiz n
The illegal blood/breath alcohol concentration for drivers over 21 in Nevada is…
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.10 .08 .30
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Fatigue = Impaired n n n n
Reduced Reaction Times Unclear Decision Making Diminished Energy Apathy
Just Plain Pooped n
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Majority of crashes happen between 12 noon and 8pm on Fridays! Fatigue has been determined to be a factor in: 100,000 Police Reported Crashes Annually 1/3 of Commercial Truck Fatalities
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Drowsy? n n n n n n n n n
Can’t Remember Last Few Miles Driven Can’t Focus/Eyes Close By Themselves Trouble Keeping Your Head Up Can’t Stop Yawning Wandering, Disconnected Thoughts Weaving Jerky Movements Speeding Up/Slowing Down Missing Turns/Exits
Your Best Defense! n n n n n n
Get Enough Rest Plan Rest Breaks Every 2 Hours/100 Miles Plan Long Trips With A Companion Don’t Keep Inside Of Vehicle Too Warm Keep Windows Open Slightly Power Nap
Distracted Driving n What n
is a Driving Distraction?
It is an Event, Activity, Object or Person that takes your attention away from the Driving Task!
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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”
Concentrate n
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 n
Just concentrate on the task at hand 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
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Why risk it, avoid the NO ZONE!
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Crossing Railroad Tracks n n n n n n
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11 times more likely to be fatal Never drive around lowered gates Expect a train when approaching tracks Never race a train Never stop on the tracks Stalled on Tracks? Train Coming?!
Amber Lights? Red Lights? Exception?
School Buses n
Cars in both directions must stop
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Bus drivers can report violations of this law
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School Zones n n n n
Traffic Controls in School Zones Speed Limit either 15 or 25 mph Flashing Yellow Lights 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 Law Pedestrian Right of Way Rules
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Pedestrians n n n n
5900 killed 70000 injured 50% at or between intersections Most under 15 years old
Pedestrians n n n n
Use the what-if? technique Yield Do not wave them across the street Expect the Unexpected
Motorcycles and Other 2 Wheeled Hazards n
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Be Aware of Motorcycles/Bicycles Harder to See Increase Following Distance
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Construction Zones 50,000 workers injured or killed each year n All were Preventable n Input Overload n Slow Down and Obey Flaggers n Fines Doubled n
Night Driving n n n
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More Hazardous ½&½ 500ft oncoming/300ft following Don’t Outdrive Headlights Windows/Mirrors Covers/Lenses Clean
Anti Lock Brake Systems n
Effective use of the system...
Step on the brake pedal hard Stay on brake until stopped/Hazard over n Don’t release or pump the brake pedal n Practice n n
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Aggressive Driving and Road Rage n n n n n n
Let them get ahead of you-more control Where do you go? Don’t make eye contact Ignore gestures and refuse to return them Do not challenge them by blocking/speeding up Report aggressive drivers to the police
Before You Go Anywhere Familiarize yourself with the vehicle: 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: ü ü
Checklist for Your Vehicle n
Check...
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Brake lights Headlights Turn signals Tail lights Parking lights Back up lights Horn Mirrors Wipers Tires (tread, inflation and overall condition)
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Before You Go n Are
you driving with a valid Nevada Driver’s License in your possession?
Before You Go n
Are you driving with a valid registration n
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Are you carrying the certificate or photocopy?
Are you insured? n
Are you carrying proof of insurance
Be Careful Out There n n
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Always lock your vehicle Never leave the engine running if unattended Always do a walk around-tires, damage etc. 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.
Accident? Incident? 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.
When Something Goes Wrong n n n n n
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Stop at Once-warn others Notify Police-Give exact location Render Aid if Injuries-911 Wait for police-don’t leave scene Names, Addresses, license plate #”s Insurance info Witnesses-fill out cards “Responsibility”-Give insurance information card to other party
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What to do if you are stopped by Law Enforcement n n
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Stop your vehicle Keep your hands in plain view Wait for the officer Be courteous and don’t argue
Final Thoughts n
Serious Business
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Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Distracted!!
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Always Wear Safety Belts!!!
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Drive Your Vehicle As Though Your Life Depends On It!!!!
FINAL EXAM n n n
NAME & DATE LEAVE TEST WITH INSTRUCTOR 70%
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