avoiding accidents by limiting distractions and driving defensively

Avoiding accidents by limiting distractions and driving defensively

Objective

• To make all employees aware that distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving

SAFETY SCHOOL > Information provided by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and W.S. Pharr & Co.

Background

• All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety

• Stay very alert on the road, and pay good attention to the other drivers


Background

• In 2010, 3092 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver

• An estimated additional 416,000 were injured

• 18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes


Background

• Drivers who use hand-held devices, like cell phones, are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves


10 rules for defensive driving

Rule 1: Pay attention

• “I never saw him!" is the most common excuse heard after a collision

• Virtually all collisions involve the inattention of one or both drivers



Rule 2: Don't trust anyone

• Never rely on what other drivers will do

• Other drivers are just like us!

• They have things going on in their lives that distract them

• Don't trust other drivers to drive defensively



Rule 3: Yield anyway

• “Nobody ever yielded their way into a collision“

• No one has the right-of-way until it is yielded to them



Rule 4 : Know your blind spots

• It should make you uncomfortable if you are driving in someone else’s blind spot!

• Virtually all vehicles have blind areas—even motorcycles and especially trucks

• Where are your blind spots?



Rule 5: Don’t speed

• Speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to vehicle crashes

• The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year

• On average, speeding is a contributing factor in approximately 30% of all fatal crashes, and 14,000 fatalities annually



Rule 6: Stay off the phone

• Talking on a cell phone while driving can be just as dangerous as driving impaired

• Cell phone use while driving is rapidly becoming one of the leading causes of accidents

• And, of course, no texting!



Rule 7: Wear your seat belt

• Seat belts are the most significant safety device ever invented

• Provide impact protection, absorb crash forces, and keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle



Rule 8: Look down the road

• Keep your eyes UP and looking down the road

• You should be looking about 15-20 seconds ahead of your vehicle

• Look even farther if you can



Rule 9: Drive to communicate

• Make sure to signal ALL turns

• Signal your intention at least 4-10 seconds in advance

• Turn on your headlights in the daytime



Rule 10: Beware of intersections

• Look 10 seconds ahead to anticipate changing traffic signals

• Keep 10 feet back from the stop line

• Make sure you can see under the tires of the vehicle in front of you

• Use a 3-4 second delay prior to taking off and changing lanes


Review

• It is important to remember that we all have someone waiting for us to arrive safely

• Avoid ALL distractions when driving


Review

• Look 15 – 20 seconds down the road to know what’s happening ahead of you

• Be aware of other drivers

• Don’t assume they will drive safely


Review

• 10 rules for defensive driving

• Pay attention

• Don’t trust anyone

• Yield anyway

• Know your blind spots

• Don’t speed


Review

• 10 rules for defensive driving

• Stay off the phone

• Wear your seat belt

• Look down the road

• Drive to communicate

• Beware of intersections


avoiding accidents by limiting distractions and driving defensively

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