Accident Prevention - Driving Behaviors

Defensive Driving

Objective: To prevent accidents by trying to anticipate hazardous situations and adjusting driver behavior to compensate.

Description: The defensive driver tries to recognize potentially hazardous situations sufficiently in advance to allow time to safely maneuver past them. The defensive driver assumes that other drivers may make mistakes and is on guard in the event an error is made. The defensive driver searches ahead of what is immediately in front, to have advance warning of approaching hazards.

Management:

1. Do you periodically have a qualified person ride along with the drivers to evaluate their defensive driving habits ?
2. Do the drivers understand how they should be driving to be defensive drivers ?
3. Do divers recognize that common situations such as crossing intersections, entering expressways and stopping can be hazardous ?
4. What does the company do to encourage defensive driving ?
5. Have the drivers been trained in regard to defensive driving ?
6. Are the drivers aware of the concept of "preventable accident" ?
7. Does the company have an accident review program for classifying preventable and non-preventable accidents ?
8. Has the company defined a standard for judging safe driving performance for its drivers ?

Drivers:

• Learn to recognize driving situations that can be hazardous.
• Assume other drivers will make errors.
• Adjust speed, position, direction and attention to be able to maneuver safely if a hazard develops.
• Scan far enough ahead to be able to react safely to approaching situations.
• Scan frequently to the side and rear for passing or approaching vehicles.
• Scan thoroughly before changing speed or direction.

RIGHT-OF-WAY

Objective: To prevent accidents by drivers giving "right-of-way" until it is apparent that right-of-way is being given by the other driver.

Description: Generally the driver who arrives last gives right-of-way to those who were already there. You give right-of-way when entering traffic. You give right-of-way when turning left in front of approaching traffic. You give right-of-way when changing lanes. You move into your intended path or direction only after you are assured you will not conflict with other traffic.

Management:

1. Do your drivers understand the meaning of right-of-way?
2. Do you periodically have a qualified person ride with your drivers to evaluate their behavior in right-of-way situations?
3. Do you have a realistic scheduling policy which does not encourage drivers to take right-of-way rather than give it?
4. Are the drivers aware of the concept of "preventable accident"?

Drivers:

• Do not force other drivers to brake or steer because of your obstructive maneuver into their path.
• Assume other drivers will not see you and avoid you when you maneuver into their path.
• Move into your intended path or direction only after you are assured you will not conflict with other traffic:

START-UP/BACK-UP

Objective: To prevent start-up/back-up accidents by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely control them.

Description: During a typical start-up/back-up situation, a vehicle has been parked for a long enough time to allow pedestrians and other vehicles to approach and rest within a few feet of the parked vehicle. Starting up forward, backward, or steering left or right from a stopped position can create an unexpected hazard for both the driver and bystanders.

Management:

1. Are drivers aware of different types of hazards that may arise during start-up/back-up ?
2. Do drivers take time to walk around their vehicles and look under vehicles checking for people, vehicles, or other objects which may obstruct their start-up/back-up path ?
3. What do you do to encourage drivers to make a walk-around check ?
4. Are vehicles provided with adequate mirrors ?

Management:

• Check for proper mirror adjustment.
• Check for broken mirrors and loose mountings.
• Check for proper tail light, brake light, and turn signal function.
• Check for proper function of horn and back-up warning signal (if so equipped).

Drivers:

• Before start-up or back-up, walk around vehicle and look underneath to ensure you have safe clearance for start-up.
• Don't forget to check blind area on right and in front as well.
• After your walk-around check, don't delay in moving vehicle. Do not allow time for another hazard to approach.
• Check mirrors for proper adjustment frequently.
• Start up slowly at first to allow other vehicles and pedestrians, who may have unexpectedly approached, to safely move away.
• Tap horn in congested areas or recruit a signalman.

NEGOTIATING CURVES

Objective: To prevent rollover accidents by clear understanding of how and why rollovers occur and how to judge safe speed approaching and negotiating curves.

Description: When negotiating a curve at an excessive speed, commercial motor vehicles will roll over. Automobiles will lose traction and slide out of a curve instead of rolling over. The more top-heavy a vehicle is, the more likely it will roll over than slide out of a curve. During a tractor-trailer rollover, the trailer usually begins to roll before the tractor. By the time the driver realizes that the trailer is rolling, there is not much that can be done to prevent a complete rollover.

Management:

1. Do drivers know that the posted advisory speed on curves is for automobiles, not commercial vehicles ?
2. Do your drivers know that commercial motor vehicles generally cannot negotiate curves at as high a speed as automobiles without the possibility of rolling over ?
3. Do your drivers know what conditions make rollover more likely ?

Drivers:

• Ensure that cargo loads are secured to prevent moving from side to side.
• Remember that top-heavy cargo will cause commercial vehicles to roll over in curves at speeds lower than those loaded with flat compact cargo.
• Reduce speed before entering curve. If you enter curves too fast, you may not have enough time to slow down before rolling over.
• Maintaining speeds at curve advisory may not be slow enough to prevent rollover of commercial vehicles.
• Since trailers usually begin to roll first, you may not know you are rolling over until it is too late.
• Slow down before you get into the curve.
• Stay off the shoulder in curves. Your right or left side wheels may drop or sink down into a shoulder and increase your chance of rollover.
• Slow down substantially for unfamiliar curves.

Maintenance:

• Adequate fifth wheel lubrication.

PASSING

Objective: To prevent accidents during passing by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Description: Safe passing maneuvers require well developed skills and judgment. Passing tasks include checking sight distance ahead, checking mirrors for rear traffic, checking for traffic passing you, estimating speed and position of approaching vehicles; estimating time you need to safely pass, accelerating, steering, checking for traffic entering from side roads, etc. Because the driver must perform several tasks in a short time during passing, the chance of an error is high, unless the maneuver is done cautiously. Because it sometimes takes a long time before an opportunity to pass safely arises, some drivers take risks and assume other drivers will compensate for their own aggressiveness.

Management:

1. Have your drivers ever been trained to perform safe passing maneuvers ? How ? When ? By whom ? To what standard of performance ?
2. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe passing maneuvers ?
3. Do you periodically have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess their driving habits?
4. Do you have a step-by-step procedure for safely completing a pass ?

Maintenance:

• Broken mirrors and loose mountings.
• Tail light, brake light and turn signal function.

Drivers:

• Before you pass, check to be certain no one is passing you.
• Assume the driver in front of you doesn't know you are passing. That driver may pull to the left to pass a vehicle in front or make a left turn.
• While you are passing, watch carefully for vehicles that may be entering the roadway from side roads or driveways.
• Assume vehicles approaching from the opposite direction will not see you or slow down for you to complete your passing maneuver.
• Watch out for vehicles passing other vehicles from the opposite direction.
• If the vehicle you are trying to pass speeds up, let it go. Don't get into a dangerous race.
• Don't take risks. If in doubt, don't pass.
• Signal your intentions to pass.

TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT

Objective: To prevent turning accidents by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Description: Making left or right turns with long vehicles creates problems that automobile drivers do not have. Blind spots make it difficult to see other vehicles. Vehicle length forces drivers to make wide turns, encroaching upon adjacent lanes of traffic. Improper tracking of vehicles makes it difficult for the driver to judge position. Turning takes longer to complete, thus increasing exposure time to hazards. Drivers should recognize the hazards created while turning and follow proper procedures to minimize them.

Management:

1. Have your drivers been trained regarding safe turning procedures ? How ? When ?
2. By whom ? To what standard of performance ?
3. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe turning procedures ?
4. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess safe driving habits ?
5. Have you examined routes used to minimize travel and turning at difficult or hazardous intersections?
6. Have you considered attaching "Wide Right Turn" decal on rear of vehicles ?

Maintenance:

• Broken mirrors, loose mountings, and mirror adjustment.
• Tail light, brake light and turn signal function.

Drivers

Right turns:

• Move to the right lane well in advance of intersection, positioned to make a safe turn.
• When turning, keep rear of vehicle to the right, blocking other vehicles from passing on the right.
• If encroaching upon other lanes, wait for other vehicles to clear and then turn slowly.
• Be careful that improper tracking does not cause the vehicle or trailer to ride up onto curb or strike stationary objects.

Left turns:

• As you approach turn with signal on, watch for drivers who may misinterpret this signal as an
• Intention to turn somewhere before your intended turning point.
• Don't start turning until there is enough time for the rear of vehicle to clear the intersection without forcing opposing drivers to slow down or swerve.
• Don't assume opposing drivers will see you. They may be looking elsewhere.
• Be careful that improper tracking does not cause the vehicle or trailer to interfere with pedestrians and other vehicles.

CROSSING INTERSECTIONS

Objective: To prevent intersection accidents by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Description: Crossing intersections with long vehicles presents problems that automobile drivers do not have. Because of their length and their slow acceleration, trucks and buses take much more time to cross and clear intersecting roads than do automobiles. Also, at night, the sides of long vehicles may not be conspicuous to approaching drivers. Drivers of large vehicles must recognize these problems and take special care when crossing intersections, particularly when they are uncontrolled intersections.

Management:

1. Have your drivers ever been trained regarding safe procedures when crossing intersecting roads ?
2. How ? When ? By whom ? To what standard of performance ?
3. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe road crossing procedures ?
4. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess safe driving habits ?
5. Do you have a step-by-step procedure for approaching, entering, and traversing intersections ?

Maintenance:

• Side marker lights on tractor, trailer and buses.
• Cleanliness of sides of vehicles.
• Reflectors and/or reflective tape on sides of vehicles.

Drivers:

• Approach intersection assuming that cross traffic may not obey traffic control and anticipate the need for avoidance.
• When crossing an uncontrolled intersection, allow enough time to clear entire road with rear of vehicle without interfering with cross traffic. Don't count on cross traffic slowing down to let you pass. They may not see you.
• Crossing uncontrolled intersections at night with large vehicles is especially hazardous. Although approaching drivers may see your headlights from the side, they may not realize you have a long trailer following.
• Keep sides of vehicle clean and keep side marker light operational. Be very careful with dark-colored unloaded flatbed trailers.

USING AND CHANGING LANES

Objective: To prevent accidents during lane use and lane changing by recognizing the potential hazards and knowing how to safely control them.

Description: Lane use and lane changing accidents primarily result from following too closely or being inattentive to traffic conditions ahead. In either case, defensive driving is the most effective countermeasure. Lane use and lane changing accidents primarily involve sideswiping and rear-end collisions. The existence of blind spots around large vehicles is a major contributing factor. Maintain a proper following distance and take note of countermeasures involving right-of-way.

Management:

1. Have your drivers been trained regarding safe lane usage and lane changing ? How ? When ?
2. By whom ? To what standard of performance ?
3. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe lane usage and lane changing habits ?
4. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess safe driving habits ?
5. Do you and your drivers know that most lane use and lane changing accidents result from following too closely ?

Maintenance:

• Broken mirrors and loose mountings.
• Brake lights and turn signals.
• Brake performance.

Drivers:

• The most important rule in lane usage is to maintain a safe following distance. Use any method you feel comfortable with. Just try to ensure that if the driver in front of you slams on his brakes, you can avoid a collision, stay in your lane and not be hit by the vehicle following you all at the same time.
• Try to scan ahead of what is immediately in front of you.
• If you see trouble ahead, flash your brake lights to alert drivers following you.
• If you cannot see ahead of the vehicle you are following, increase your following distance.
• It might swerve into the next lane to avoid a slow or stopped vehicle and leave you exposed to a rear-end collision.
• Blind spots to the right of large vehicles are well known. However, automobile drivers may not know you cannot see them as they pass you on the right. Scan to the right thoroughly before steering into the next lane. Give right-of-way, don't take it.
• Clean mirrors and check adjustment frequently.

PARKING

Objective: To prevent accidents when parked, by anticipating the hazards involved and knowing how to safely avoid them.

Description: Parking on or partially on a travel lane creates a hazard. This is especially true at night. On congested metropolitan streets, drivers expect to see parked vehicles in their lane and are usually ready to react and avoid them. On rural and high-speed roads, drivers do not expect to see vehicles parked in their lane. Their attention level may be lower and they may not be able to react quickly enough to avoid a collision.

Management:

1. Have your drivers ever been trained regarding safe parking procedures ? How ? When ? By whom ?
2. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe parking procedures ?
3. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess safe driving habits ?
4. Are your vehicles equipped with required emergency warning devices ?
5. Do drivers know how to set up triangles ?
6. Do drivers know where to place triangles ?
7. Does the entrance to your terminal provide sufficient space to park off the roadway ?

Maintenance:

• Clean vehicle. Especially rear.
• Tail light and flasher operation.
• Emergency reflective triangles and/or flares stored in vehicle.
• Battery condition.

Drivers:

• Always try to park your vehicle off the road altogether. Even leaving a small portion of your vehicle on the travel lane creates a serious hazard.
• If you pull off onto the shoulder, turn on your flashers day or night. At night, drowsy drivers who see only tail lights on your vehicle may follow you onto the shoulder thinking you are still moving.
• If a sudden breakdown or other emergency forces you to park on a travel lane, turn on your flashers immediately. Then set up reflective triangles at the proper distances immediately. If you have a CB, call for help. At night, this is an especially hazardous situation for both you and other drivers, be extremely careful.

NEGOTIATING DOWNGRADE

Objective: To prevent loss of control accidents on downgrades by proper brake system maintenance and by developing the skills and knowledge needed to safely negotiate a downgrade.

Description: The main reason for loss of control on downgrades is brake failure, and the main reason for this is the use of improper control techniques by the driver. The brake system may be damaged or maladjusted and may not have sufficient capacity for downgrade control. Primary countermeasures for preventing a runaway are: adequate driver skills; frequent checks on brake operation; adequate preventive maintenance.

Management:

1. Have drivers been trained to properly control their vehicles on downgrades ? How ? When ? By whom ?
2. Do drivers know how to select proper gearing for downgrade descents ?
3. Do drivers know how to check the condition of braking systems ?
4. How often does the maintenance crew inspect and adjust brake systems ? Is this frequent enough?
5. If vehicles are equipped with brake application pressure gauges, do drivers know how to use them ?

Maintenance:

• Frequent brake inspection and adjustment. Inspect and adjust brakes more frequently for vehicles used in mountainous terrain. For cross-country trips, check after every trip.
• Don't wait for slack adjustor stroke to exceed maximum permissible. Adjust to minimum acceptable stroke whenever convenient.
• Make every effort to replace aged brake lines and diaphragms before they fail.

Drivers:

• The gear to select for descending a grade should be no higher than that required for ascending the samegrade. Some vehicles may require lower gears going down than going up. Know your vehicle.
• Don't use more than light (10 psi) brake pressure to retard speed. If speed cannot be controlled with light pressure, use a lower gear ratio.
• Don't use hand lever to apply only trailer brakes. You could overheat trailer brakes and not have enough capacity in tractor to control speed adequately.
• Stop, put truck in proper gear and check brake function before descending long, steep grades.

DRIVING IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS

Objective: To prevent accidents by developing the driver skills and judgement necessary to operate vehicle safely during adverse traction and visibility conditions.

Description: Failure to adjust to adverse conditions is a major factor in accident causation. The adverse conditions most frequently encountered cause reduced traction and reduced visibility. Reduced traction conditions include rain, snow, ice, slush and gravel. Reduced visibility conditions include twilight, darkness, rain, snow and fog. Drivers should not only develop the skills and judgment necessary to keep their own vehicle safely under control, they should also try to anticipate and be prepared to compensate for errors other drivers make during such poor driving conditions.

Management:

1. Does the driver know how to judge safe speed on slippery surfaces ?
2. Does the driver know what causes jackknifing and how to prevent it ?
3. Have drivers ever been trained to safely maneuver on slippery surfaces ? How ? When ? By whom?
4. Is there a safe off-road area available to drivers for practicing vehicle handling on slippery surfaces?
5. How do trip schedules take into account the effect of inclement weather ?
6. Should tire chains be used in severe weather conditions ?

Maintenance:

• Tire tread wear and tire pressure. Availability of tire chains when needed.• Windshield wiper and washer condition. Mirror system.• Proper functioning of all lighting circuits, Headlight beam aim. including emergency flashers.

Drivers:

Reduced traction conditions:

• Increase following distance enough to avoid a rear-end collision if other driver brakes hard.
• Use moderation in judging safe speed. To maintain a safe stopping distance, slow down, but not so much that you become a hazard to drivers behind.
• Apply brakes gently and steer without jerky movements.
• Beware when running empty or bobtailing. Lightly loaded wheels lock up easily during braking and this induces jackknifing.
• Beware of travelling too slowly on slick, banked curves. The vehicle might slide sideways into opposing traffic or off the road.

Reduced visibility conditions:

• Use moderation in judging safe speed. To maintain a safe stopping distance during reduced visibility, slow down, but not so much that you become a hazard to drivers behind. Keep vehicle clean, especially headlights, windshield, tail lights. Use emergency flashers in extreme conditions.
• Be prepared to get off road and wait for conditions to improve if necessary.

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Objective: To prevent accidents during emergency situations by anticipating the hazards involved, knowing how to avoid them safely and using available emergency equipment.

Description: Emergency situations include stalling in a travel lane, stopping for an accident in your path, engine compartment fire, wheel fire, burned-out light bulbs, blown fuse in lighting circuit, etc. Having emergency equipment available in your vehicle and knowing how to use it will greatly assist you in avoiding hazards that arise in these types of situations.

Management:

1. Have your drivers ever been trained regarding emergency equipment requirements and emergency procedures ? How ? When ? By whom ?
2. Are all your vehicles equipped with the required emergency equipment ?
3. Have you ever questioned your drivers about how to place reflective triangles or how to use the fire extinguisher or what to do if their vehicle suddenly stalls on the roadway ?
4. Are your vehicles conspicuous enough when emergency equipment is used ?

Maintenance:

• Emergency flashers - tractor and trailer
• Spare electrical fuses (if fuses are used)
• Reflective triangles
• Fire extinguisher• Fusees

Drivers:

• If you stall while driving, turn on emergency flashers immediately and try to coast off to shoulder if safe to do so.
• If you stall and stop on roadway, turn on emergency flashers immediately. Then set up reflective triangles. If you have a CB radio, call for help. At night, this is a very hazardous situation for both you and other drivers, so be extremely careful.
• Controlling and extinguishing fires safely requires special knowledge. If you don't know how to handle a fire emergency, you can easily make the situation worse and injure or kill yourself as well.
• Select a good reference on vehicle fire control and study it well. Since you will seldom encounter a fire, it is easy to forget what to do. Refresh your memory by reviewing procedures frequently.

PEDESTRIAN INTERACTION

Objective: To prevent accidents involving pedestrians by anticipating hazards likely when maneuvering close to pedestrians and knowing how to handle such situations safely.

Description: Most pedestrian accidents occur when the pedestrian walks onto a roadway and into the path of an approaching vehicle. Pedestrians often misjudge the speed and closeness of a commercial motor vehicle. Pedestrians assume you can and will slow down for them. Pedestrians think that because they can see you, you can see them. These kinds of errors in judgement are why pedestrian accidents frequently occur. Drivers should try to anticipate pedestrians making such errors and be prepared to compensate.

Management:

1. Have your drivers ever been trained to maneuver safely near pedestrians ? How ? When ? By whom ?
2. Do you know if your drivers maneuver around pedestrian traffic safely ?
3. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers to assess their safe driving habits ?

Maintenance:

• Broken mirrors - loose mountings
• Horn operation
• Adequate indirect vision devices

Drivers:

• When maneuvering close to pedestrians, anticipate that the pedestrian may do the unexpected.
• Adjust your driving to safely avoid a pedestrian who jumps out in front of you. It is difficult for pedestrians to correctly judge how fast you are approaching. If you are going faster than normal for the area, you may count on the pedestrian judging there is time to cross when really there is not.
• Pedestrians will often assume that you see them and that you will slow down for them to complete their crossing.
• Don't assume they will give you the right-of-way until it is obvious they are waiting for you to pass.
• At night especially, pedestrians assume you can see them because they can see your headlights so easily.
• Be extra careful at night in pedestrian areas. Remember improper trailer tracking in turns may cause your trailer to run onto the sidewalk.
• Turn wide enough to avoid this and go very slowly.
• Pedestrians all too often walk or stand in the blind spots in front and to the right of your vehicle.
• Scan around vehicle thoroughly when pedestrians are present.

PASSENGER MANAGEMENT

Objective: To prevent accidents and on-board injuries caused by unsafe passenger behavior.

Description: Passengers can distract the driver. Passengers can physically interfere with the driver. Passengers can restrict the driver's freedom to maneuver aggressively for accident avoidance. Passengers can injure themselves by not sitting properly in designated seating positions. Whatever the case, the driver must manage the passengers to avoid such problems.

Management:

1. Have drivers been trained to manage passengers for safe transportation ? How ? When ? By whom ?
2. Do you know if your drivers are practicing safe passenger management ?
3. Do you ever have qualified personnel ride with your drivers as passengers so as to assess their passenger management habits ?
4. Do vehicles comply with applicable federal and state regulations regarding safe design and required equipment ?
5. Do you require drivers to make pre-trip announcements to passengers requiring their cooperation in maintaining safe conduct ?
6. Do you inform customers of the need to follow rules of conduct and to act safely when they charter a bus ?

Drivers:

• Do not drive if your passengers are in an unstable position. You might feel restricted to aggressively brake or steer to avoid an accident.
• Do not drive if standing passengers are close to you, as they may fall over you unexpectedly, causing you to lose control.
• Do make announcements informing passengers of their responsibility to act safely.
• If passengers refuse to cooperate, stop the bus until you are satisfied that it is safe to continue driving.

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