defensive driving for non-emergency drivers. non- emergency vehicle operation non- sworn personnel...

Defensive DrivingFor Non-Emergency

Drivers

Non- Emergency Vehicle OperationNon- Sworn personnel are not authorized to

operate agency vehicles in emergency mode (lights and siren). Vehicles must be operated in accordance with all traffic laws.

Non- Emergency Vehicle Operation

DEFENSIVE driving is…

making a habit of driving to prevent collisions and violations. You are creating a safe driving space. You are defending yourself even if the conditions are poor or other drivers are acting unsafely.

DEFENSIVE driving is…

…driving to SAVE LIVES, TIME and MONEY in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.

Characteristics of a Defensive Driver

Knowledge of laws and safe driving strategies Alertness to focus attention on driving and the

changing conditions Foresight to recognize hazards in advance and

know what might happen Judgment to decide the safest action Skill to carry out the action

Characteristics of a Defensive Driver KNOWLEDGEKNOWLEDGE

ALERTNESSALERTNESS

FORESIGHTFORESIGHTJUDGEMENTJUDGEMENT

SKILLSKILL

Q: How do we prevent collisions?

A: Collisions are prevented by the driver(s) doing everything reasonable to avoid them.

Safety Facts

In the last 40 years the number of drivers increased by 64% while the roadway system increased by only 6%.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association

Road Signs

Road Sign Shapes Round- Railroad advance warning Diamond - Existing or possible hazards ahead Triangle - Yield

Crossbuck - Railroad crossing Pentagon – School advance and school crossing Vertical Rectangle - Generally regulatory Pennant - Advance warning of no passing zones Octagon - Stop Horizontal Rectangle - Generally for guide signs

Traffic signsStandard Colors

• GREEN – Guide, directional information• RED – Stop, do not enter or wrong way• BLUE – Motorist services guide• ORANGE – Construction/maintenance warning• BROWN - Public recreation/scenic• YELLOW – General warning• WHITE - Regulatory• BLACK - Regulatory

CrashStatistics

90% of all crashes are the result of DRIVER ERROR

Drivers have a 1 in 3 chance (33%) of being involved in a fatal crash.

What affects our ability behind the wheel?

AgeLightsGlareVisionEye wearDirty windows

Injury/illnessFatigueStress

MedicationPassengers

Cellular phones

Driver Safety Equipment Seatbelt

use is mandatory as outlined in Florida state statute and Sheriff’s office policy

Failure to use a seatbelt could result in disciplinary action and or loss of benefits if involved in an accident.

Safety Belts…PROTECT

CONTROL

SURVIVE

They protect you by absorbing the force of a crash.

They help you stay in control of your vehicle by keeping you in your seat.

They increase your chance of surviving a crash by more than 50%.

What are the consequencesor results of speeding?

Increased gas consumption. Longer stopping distance. Violation of traffic laws. Increased chance of injury or fatality. Decreased peripheral scanning ability.

Speed affects your field of vision. The faster you are traveling the narrower your visual field. This reduces your ability to recognize hazards outside of that narrow line of vision.

Driving at unsafe speeds is hazardous to you and other drivers on the road. Safe driving is as simple as making a decision to do so.

Speeding or driving at an unsafe speed costsdrivers $41 Billion

Annually


Driving Too Fast

SPEED: Is the #1 cause of crashes in the USA.

CARELESS DRIVING: Is #2

Vehicle control, stability and maneuverability are all affected

by how fast we drive

Driving Too Fast

The risk of being killed in a collision increases with speed. Speed kills. The greater the speed, the greater your risk of serious injury or death. There is 4 times more energy in a crash at 60 MPH than at 30 MPH.

Speeding is a contributing factor in fatal crashes that kill

approximately 13 of 500 people every year.


Vehicle Control•Proper steering will control weight shift and provide effective maneuvering•Shuffle steering helps maintain control and provides smooth steering.•Hand position is at the 10 and 2 o’clock or the 9 and 3 o’clock position on the steering wheel.

Passing

Passing is one of the most dangerous

things we do!

Passing

Passing is one of the most dangerous things we do!One of the most common causes of deadly head-on

collisions is improper passing. Before undertaking any pass, ask yourself,

“Will it make any difference?”“Is it safe?”“Is it legal?”

“Do I really need to get ahead?”When getting ready to pass another vehicle, maintain a

safe following distance. Before passing, signal left. Scan the road ahead and behind continually.

When NOT to Pass

Where you see a “DO NOT PASS” or “NO PASSING

ZONE” sign

NOPASSINGZONE

When NOT to Pass

Where a solid yellow line is painted on your side of the

center line.

When NOT to Pass

On hills or curves

When NOT to Pass

At or within 100 feet of intersections

When NOT to Pass

Within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct,

tunnel or railroad crossing

How to Recognize Potential Hazards

Scan the road ahead, behind, and next to your vehicle.

Check rear-view and side-view mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds.

How to Recognize Potential Hazards

Many collisions may have been and could be prevented if drivers recognize hazards in advance and focus their attention on driving.

Proper Mirror Adjustment

Mirrors should be adjusted, so that you can not see the sides of your

own vehicle

Collision Avoidance

1. It is better to swerve right instead of toward oncoming traffic to prevent a crash.

Collision Preparedness

2. Hitting a row of bushes is better than a tree, post or solid object.


3. Hitting a vehicle moving in the same direction is better than hitting one head-on.


4. Driving off the road is better than skidding off the road when trying to avoid a crash.


5. It is better to hit something that is not moving instead of a vehicle moving toward you.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving causes 6.8 million crashes based

on estimates.


Safety Facts

Road RageIncreasingly crowded highways and traffic backups cause many

drivers to lose control and become extremely aggressive.

If you encounter aggressive drivers, don’t challenge them, and

stay as far away as possible.

Are You An Aggressive Driver?

Do you speed up to Do you speed up to close the gap with the close the gap with the

car ahead of you to car ahead of you to prevent drivers from prevent drivers from entering your lane?entering your lane?

YES? NO? YES? NO? MAYBE?MAYBE?YOUYOU BE THE JUDGE! BE THE JUDGE!


Do you switch Do you switch lanes to whichever lanes to whichever

seems to be seems to be moving faster?moving faster?

YES? NO? MAYBE?YOU BE THE JUDGE!


Do you try to get ahead Do you try to get ahead of other drivers, even of other drivers, even when you are not in a when you are not in a

particular hurry?particular hurry?



Do you pass as many Do you pass as many vehicles as possible vehicles as possible

before the road closes before the road closes to one lane?to one lane?



Do you break Do you break suddenly when suddenly when being tailgated?being tailgated?



Do you curse and Do you curse and make negative make negative

gestures towards gestures towards other drivers?other drivers?



Do you tailgate Do you tailgate drivers who you drivers who you think are driving think are driving

too slow?too slow?



Do you block Do you block vehicles that are vehicles that are

trying to pass trying to pass illegally?illegally?



Do you typically Do you typically speed up before an speed up before an

intersection to avoid intersection to avoid a yellow light?a yellow light?



Do you get overly Do you get overly upset or angry in upset or angry in heavy traffic or in heavy traffic or in

traffic jams?traffic jams?


How Close is Too Close?

2 to 3 sec. following distance is generally recommended for driving in town.

The higher the speed the greater the following distance.

3 to 6 sec. minimum following distance is recommended on our county highways.

How Close is Too Close? Your safe following distance depends on how fast you

are going and what the road conditions are. The two-second rule is a convenient way to figure your safe driving distance at various speeds without having to do calculations with numbers.

Just remember, the higher the speed the greater the following distance!

Measure your following distance by choosing a landmark such as a tree. When the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you passes, start counting seconds: “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”. If you reach the landmark before you finish counting, you are following too closely.

Take Your Keys With You

Florida Law prohibits drivers leaving a vehicle parked and unattended while the engine is running.

FSS 316.1975 Unattended motor vehicle

No matter how long you expect to be away from your vehicle, Florida Law requires all drivers to stop the engine, lock the ignition, and remove the key before exiting.

This includes “just for a minute” runs inside any place you can think of! (post office, convenient stores, etc)

Defensive Driving Tips That You Can Use

Use time management when drivingMonitor your speed regularly Be careful and stay alertLower your speed when entering

work zones and school zones.

Defensive Driving Tips That You Can Use

Let tailgaters pass—don’t increase your speed.

Use your turn signals. Florida law requires you turn

headlights on when driving in rain, fog or smoke or other low visibility situations.

LETS DRIVE!

defensive driving for non-emergency drivers. non- emergency vehicle operation non- sworn personnel...

Documents

action slide

road signs slide

defensive driving

habit of driving

nonemergency drivers

safe driving space

guide signs

result of driver error