National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course 4

In a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) national survey, drivers reported committing these unsafe driving behaviors in the week prior to the survey:

• 30% entered an intersection just as the light was turning red.

• 26% slowed, but did not completely stop at a stop sign

• 23% drove 10 miles per hour over the speed limit on an interstate highway

• 22% drove 10 miles per hour faster than most other vehicles

• 8% drove when affected by alcohol

Defensive Driving Involves:

• Making effective safe and legal driving choices

• Creating a safe and stress-free personal driving space in and around your vehicle

• Driving to your destination without a ticket, a crash, or compromising other drivers’ safety

Defensive Driving Involves:

• Practicing courtesy, compassion, common sense and cooperation.

• Understanding the risks of hazardous driving conditions and behaviors.

Definition:

•Defensive Driving is driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.

Benefits of defensive driving:• Saving your life and the lives of others in

your vehicle• Reducing traffic crash-related injuries• Saving time• Saving money• Reducing your chance of being involved

in a crash• Reducing your chance of getting a traffic

ticket

A Preventable Collision is…• One in which the driver fails to do

everything reasonable to avoid it.

• Facts reveal that most collisions are preventable, and that violations are the cause of most collisions!

DDC Collision Prevention Formula:(R U A)

•Recognize the hazard•Understand the

defense•Act correctly in time

Recognize the Hazard:Scan ahead, around, and behind you.• What is behind you?

• What is around you?

• What are you driving into?

• Look in the mirrors every 3-5 seconds.

• Use the “what-if” strategy.

Understand the Defense:

• Know what to do to avoid a traffic hazard.

• Know the consequences of the choices you make.

• Know the basic defenses:– develop effective scanning patterns– slowing down– using a safe following distance for the

driving conditions

Act correctly, in time:

• Drivers should be alert and concentrating on the driving task.

• Drivers may know the correct evasive maneuver, but may not be paying attention and lose response time.

• Others may act in time, but may act incorrectly.

What do you think are the four most common driver errors that may cause a crash or violation?

The Fatal Four:

• Speeding• Right-of-way errors and violations• Driving left of center• Tailgating

Which of these are preventable?

They all are!!

“Speeding”…the legal definition:• Driving at speeds greater than the

posted limit (it’s there for a reason, you know!)

• Driving over the maximum operating speed of the vehicle; e.g. when towing or driving on a “donut” spare

• Driving too fast for existing conditions

Right of Way Violations include:• Failure to yield• Disregarding a traffic signal such

as running through a red light• Running or rolling through a stop

sign (a St. Louis-roll)

Who has the right of way?

Who has the right of way?

• No one actually has the right of way. Traffic law only indicates who should yield the right of way. So if you enter into an intersection because you THINK you have the right of way, that thought could result in a crash!

Delayed Acceleration Technique• At an intersection, you will either

be the first car or there will be others ahead of you

• When the light turns green, as the first car, we should delay acceleration by two seconds and scan the road before proceeding.

Driving Left of Center

• Refers to crossing the center line. Vehicles cross the center line for many reasons, but this driver error has a potentially fatal outcome: a head-on collision. Ask yourself when passing, “Is this absolutely necessary?”

Three Types of Crashes Resulting from Unsafe

Passing• Getting sideswiped

• Getting run off the road

• Getting hit head on

Passing Tips• Use a safe 3 - second following distance• Scan ahead and look behind • Check your blind spots• Use your directional signals• Swing out and speed up to the speed

limit• When you can see pavement in front of

tires in your rearview mirror, signal and return to the lane

• Cancel your directional signal• Maintain your speed after passing

Split-second decisions

• Drive right, onto the shoulder, not left.– Away from oncoming traffic

• Drive, don’t skid, off the road.– Reduce speed and brake gradually

• Hit something soft, not hard.– Duh!!

• Hit with a glancing blow.– Force of impact is greater in a head-on

crash.

The Four R’s

• Read the road ahead.• Drive to the right.• Reduce speed.• Ride right off the road, if

necessary.

Tailgating!

• Perception Distance

• Reaction Distance

• Braking Distance

The Three-Second Rule

3• Identify a fixed marker ahead of you.

• Begin counting when the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead passes that marker.

• Count “one-thousand-and-one, one-thousand-and-two, one-thousand-and-three”.

• Your vehicle should reach the object when you have finished counting.

• The 3 Second Plus Rule : Add an additional second for each adverse driving condition.

If you are being tailgated:

If you are being tailgated:

• Keep a safe space in front, back, and to the sides of your vehicle

If you are being tailgated:

• Keep a safe space in front, back, and to the sides of your vehicle

• Slow down

If you are being tailgated:

• Keep a safe space in front, back, and to the sides of your vehicle

• Slow down• Increase your following distance to

six seconds – your three and their three

If you are being tailgated:

• Keep a safe space in front, back, and to the sides of your vehicle

• Slow down• Increase your following distance to

six seconds – your three and their three

• Allow the vehicle to pass

Video:

“Chain of Choices”

Driving is more dangerous because...• Heavier traffic (more vehicles)• Careless and inattentive drivers• Increased speed limits (faster driving)• Aggressive driving• Impaired drovers• More road construction• Lack of driver education

Aggressive Driving Behaviors• Speeding• Frequent or unsafe lane changes• Failing to signal• Tailgating• Failure to yield right-of-way• disregarding traffic controls• Impaired driving

Aggressive Driving Behaviors• Gestures• Verbal altercations• Inattentive driving• Obstructing traffic• Aggressive horn use• Aggressive headlight use

Take and Maintain Control

• Aggressive Driving– Driving in a selfish, bold, or pushy

manner, without regard for the rights or safety of the other users of the road

• Road rage– Using a vehicle as a weapon with intent to

do harm– Physical assault of a driver or vehicle– A criminal offense

When confronted by an aggressive driver:

• Stay calm and relaxed• Let him pass and get ahead of you.• Avoid eye contact• Do not challenge• Ignore verbal comments• Report overly aggressive,

threatening drivers to the police

Six Driving Conditions to Watch• Light Conditions• Weather Conditions• Road Conditions• Traffic Conditions• Vehicle Conditions• Driver Conditions

Adverse light conditions:

• Too much light:– sunrise– sunset’– glare street lights– headlights

• Defense:– visor– sunglasses– safe following

distance

• Too little light:– dusk– dawn – nighttime– no street lights

• Defense:– use headlights– increase following

distance

Skid- Avoidance Techniques• Slow Down!

• Increase following distance

• Do not slam on the brakes

• Steer smoothly

• Avoid making quick steering motions

What if you begin to skid?•Vehicles without anti-lock

brakes:–Use the “off-off” technique

•ease your foot off the accelerator•keep your foot off the brake•turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

•Vehicles with anti-lock brakes:–Keep your foot on the brake firmly

–You will not lose control UNLESS you remove your foot from the brake pedal

Weather related hazards include:

•Reduced Visibility

•Reduced Vehicle Traction

•Reduced steering Control

Defenses Include:

• Using windshield wipers• Using windshield wiper fluid• Wipers on, headlights on• Keeping all windows clean• Using low-beam headlights• SLOW DOWN!!!

Adverse Road Conditions:

• Shape of the road• Surface of the road• Shoulder of the road• Highway work zone sites

– vehicles entering and leaving area– workers and activities spill into traffic

lanes– other construction-related hazards may

remain after work is done

Defenses include:

• SLOW DOWN!• Drive at the recommended speed• Maintain vehicle control• Obey work zone flaggers and all

traffic devices• Expect the unexpected• Scan ahead of and behind your

vehicle

Adverse Traffic Conditions

• Variety of vehicles with different sizes, speeds, blind spots

• Congestion• Pedestrian traffic• Emergency vehicles• School buses

School Bus Safety

• When a school bus is stopped, and driver has activated flashing lights and signal arm, both oncoming and following traffic must stop.

• Traffic must remain stopped until the bus moves, the driver raises the signal arm, or the driver signals for traffic to proceed.

School Bus Safety - con’t.

• On a highway with separate roadways, a vehicle need not stop:– when meeting or overtaking a school bus

on a different roadway– for a school bus which is proceeding in the

opposite direction on a highway with 4 or more lanes

– for a school bus stopped in a loading zone (at a school) where students are not permitted to cross the roadway

Adverse Vehicle Conditions• Worn tires• Improper tire inflation• Non-functional directional signals• Headlights not working or improperly aimed• Poor condition or failure of brakes• Worn wipers• Lack of washer fluid• Low on fuel

Defenses include:

• Regular vehicle maintenance• Pre-trip inspections• Once in the vehicle:

– lock doors– adjust seat and mirrors– use occupant restraints

• Know your vehicle

Adverse Driver Conditions (non-drug related):

• Fatigue/drowsiness

• Stress• Emotions• Illness

• Inexperience• Limited

mobility• Reduced

hearing• Limited vision

Defenses:

• Fatigue– rest breaks– talk w/ passengers– avoid alcohol

• Illness– don’t drive too long– know how medication

affects you– be aware of changes

in your reaction time

• Vision– turn your head to check

blind spots– wear glasses if needed– clean windows– avoid looking into lights

• Limited mobility– make seat adjustments– power accessories– use safety belts

Rule of Thirds

• In the first third, accelerate to a safe and legal speed

• In the second third, maintain speed. If turning, signal and get into the appropriate lane

• In the last third, cover the brake with your foot, scan left, right, ahead, and left again. If the light is still green, and all is clear, proceed through the intersection

When turning left:

• Signal the turn• Move into the appropriate turn lane• Keep wheels pointed straight• Yield to oncoming traffic and

pedestrians• Turn into the correct lane• Check blind spots after turning

When turning right:

• Signal the turn• Keep your vehicle close to the curb• Pay attention to your lane position• Yield to pedestrians• Turn into the correct lane• Check your blind spots before and

after turning