Defensive Driving

© Summit Health Consulting

Definition of Defensive Driving According to the National Safety Council, defensive driving is “Driving to save lives, time and money despite the conditions around you and the actions of others.” Driving defensively means anticipating dangerous situa-tions, despite unfavorable conditions or mistakes of others.

Some Statistics The good news is that the country’s fatality rate continues to fall and is at its lowest rate in 33 years. This is due in large part to cars becoming safer along with other efforts such as better roadway guardrails, barriers, and shoulder/center lane sound grooves; improved emergency medicine, child safety seats, anti-lock brakes, airbags and even driver awareness campaigns such as “Click it or Ticket.” Here are some revealing statistics for the state of Colorado:

36% of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related 41% of fatalities are related to speeding 41% of occupants that died were not wearing their seat belt

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Board, the two leading causes of vehicle fatalities are (1) speeding and (2) distracted driving. Furthermore, 40% of work-related fatalities occur in company vehicles. Since lives are at stake, along with medical treatment costs and insurance claims, determining what happened to cause an accident and fatality has become so important that the Colorado State Patrol and some local police departments have dedicated units call Vehicle Crime/Collision Units, or “VCUs.” These units measure and analyze all facets of an accidents using laser and computer-generated modeling. Additionally, new vehicles have “black boxes” that analyze your driving habits/history and actions prior to collision.

The Two Components of Defensive Driving • You, the Driver: You are the only driver that you can control. You control how alert and engaged you will

be and only you control if you use your seatbelt • Your Vehicle: Your vehicle is the only vehicle that you can control. Only you can be sure that your vehi-

cle is properly maintained and safe to drive

Vehicle Safety Maintenance Following your vehicle maintenance schedule, making sure your tires are in good condition and checking hos-es, belts, headlights and turn signals are considered “defensive driving techniques.” Why? Some “non-operator” related accidents are due to operator-neglected maintenance. Pre-Drive Safety Checklists and General Schedule Guideline Daily Visually check the body of your vehicle Visually check your tires to see if they are low Weekly Glance under your vehicle looking for leaks or “hanging” parts Check your lights, turn signals, break lights and emergency flashers

Defensive Driving

Monthly Check the treads on your tire Open your hood and look for loose hoses and belts Check under the hood for fluids that have “sprayed” Seasonally Follow manufacturer scheduled maintenance Replace your wiper blades Switch to snow tires, winter oil, etc… Before You Start to Drive Be sure to check and adjust your: • Seat • Steering wheel • Headrest • Seat belt • Temperature and • Mirrors

Defensive Driving in Rural Areas and Interstate Hazards to Watch For • Road conditions and how weather affects them (e.g. gravel, blacktop, dirt, etc…) • Speeds • Other vehicles (e.g. large equipment, oversized loads, etc…) • Passing • Wildlife and/or livestock Defensive Driving Techniques • Scanning consistently, looking ahead ½ to a mile, anticipating the actions of other drivers, noting upcom-

ing curves, slow moving vehicles, farm equipment, on/off ramps, merging traffic, wildlife, etc… • Not using the shoulders of road to pass • Checking mirrors every 3-5 seconds • Keeping safe distance with increased speed • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating distractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel chang-

ing, etc…)

Passing Hazards to Watch For • Side-swiping the vehicle you’re passing • Being run off the road or • A head-on collision due to “mistiming” the passing opportunity Defensive Driving Techniques • Ask yourself “Do I really need to pass or am I just being impatient?” • Signal your intentions and check your blind spots BEFORE beginning to pass • Keep a “safety zone” around your vehicle • Be sure you can see the front tires of the vehicle you passed BEFORE merging back into your lane

Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving in City/Urban Areas Hazards to Watch For • Pedestrians • Intersections • Obstructed views (e.g. billboards, signs, parked vehicles, etc…) • Traffic volume • Pets/wildlife Defensive Driving Techniques • Scanning consistently, looking ahead one city block, anticipating the actions of other drivers, pedestrians

and bicycles; opening car doors, pot holes, etc… • Checking mirrors every 3-5 seconds • Keeping safe distance with increased traffic volume • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating distractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel chang-

ing, etc…)

Defensive Driving in Residential Areas Hazards to Watch For • Narrow streets • Pedestrians • Playing children and families • Opening doors in parked cars • Pets Defensive Driving Techniques • Scanning consistently, looking at parked vehicles for occupants, • Reduced speed • Always expect children to run onto the street • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating distractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel chang-

ing, etc…)

Intersections Note: 40% of vehicle accidents occur at intersections! Hazards to Watch For

Pedestrians Oncoming and cross traffic Stale green lights Traffic light not functioning

Defensive Driving Techniques

Scanning for oncoming and cross traffic Cover your brakes Signal your intentions and Reduce your speed

Defensive Driving

Intersections and Turning Left turns represent one of the most dangerous things you can do on the road. Left turns are so risky that UPS teaches their drivers not to make them, but rather make multiple right turns to get to their destination. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, left turns account for almost 50% of intersection crashes while right hand turns account for only 4%. Common “intersection mistakes” include: • Approaching the intersection too fast • Turning from the wrong lane • Not using your turn signal • Failing to account for oncoming traffic (left/right and ahead) and • Turning too tight or too wide Intersection Turning Procedure For right and left turns: • Slow down • Signal early • Yield to other vehicles/pedestrians • Get in the proper turning lane and • Keep your wheels straight UNTIL it is clear to turn Right turns: • Get into the right lane • Deliberately scan for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, etc… • If right turn on “red,” check for oncoming traffic from the left and ahead • Do not swing to the left as you start the turn Four-Way Stop • NEVER assume you have the right of way • Yield to vehicles in the intersection when you arrive • Driver on the left yields to the driver on the right if arrive at same time • Yield to pedestrians and • When turning left, yield to vehicles coming from the opposite direction

Defensive Driving at Night Hazards to Watch For • Poor visibility • Glare • Pets/wildlife • Fatigue • DUI

Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving Techniques • Safe distance • Scanning consistently • Reduced speed • Headlights, keep them clean and properly aligned • Reduce interior lighting • Clean your eyeglasses • Don’t overdrive your headlights • Clean windows inside and out

Defensive Driving in Fog Hazards to Watch For • Poor visibility • Fatigue from eye strain Defensive Driving Techniques • Use low beam headlights • Keep safe distance • Scanning consistently • Reduced speed • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating distractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel chang-

ing, etc…) • Reschedule your drive

Defensive Driving in Rainwater/Floods Never drive through moving water more than six inches deep because, moving at eight miles per hour, the combined impact is 132 lbs. of pressure being exerted on each tire. For every 12” of standing water, your ve-hicle’s weight is reduced by 1,500 lbs. So how much would it take to make your car float?

Hazards to Watch For • Poor visibility • Hydroplaning • Flooded roads • Moving water Defensive Driving Techniques • Use headlights • Keep safe distance • Scanning consistently • Reduced speed • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating dis-tractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel changing, etc…)

Defensive Driving

Hydroplaning It’s simple! More speed means less traction in water.

Defensive Driving on Snow and Ice Hazards to Watch For • Poor visibility • Cold temperatures • Loss of control • Loss of traction • Getting stuck Defensive Driving Techniques • Keep safe distance • Scanning consistently • Reduced speed • Use light steering, braking and acceleration • Engaged/interactive driving by eliminating distractions (texting, make-up, excessive radio channel chang-

ing, etc…) • Prepare your vehicle for winter conditions (snow tires, winter oil, new wiper blades, windshield washer

fluid, etc…) • Clean snow from your WHOLE vehicle (roof, hood, windows, tail lights, head lights, etc…) • Always travel with your low beams on • When ice builds up on wiper blades, stop in safe location and clean them • Check weather reports before you travel and if necessary and able, reschedule your drive When skidding: • Stay off the brake (for non-ABS vehicles) • Steady pressure on the brake (for ABS vehicles) • Steer in the direction of the skid Recommended Winter “Survival Kit” for Vehicles • First aid kit • Bag of sand or kitty litter • Map • Bottled water • Flashlight and extra batteries • Ice scraper and snow brush

Defensive Driving

• Folding shove, flares and matches • High energy foods • Extra clothing and blankets • Glove/hand warmers • Cell phone and charger

Speeding Speeding is a contributing factor in 13,500 crashes each year and the primary contributing factor to moving violations. For every 10 mph faster over 50 mph, the fatality rate doubles:

Rear-End Crashes/Following Too Close The National Safety Commission recommends 3-4 seconds of “following distance” between vehicles while the Colorado Highway Patrol still says one car length for every 10 mph. In a loaded vehicle or in poor weath-er conditions, you need to increase this to 4-6 seconds. Top-10 Most Frequent Causes of Rear-End Crashes • Speeding • Distracted driver (cell phone use) • Following too close • Going too fast for conditions • Another vehicle cutting in front of your vehicle • Eating/drinking • Reading; doing paperwork; using electronic equipment • Trying to stop cargo or material from shifting/sliding • Untethered pets in the front seat • Winter months (icy conditions) Avoiding Rear-Ending Others • Watch for brake lights 4-5 vehicles ahead of you • Reduce reaction time by covering your brakes • Watch for vehicles stopped on the side of the road • Don’t use cruise control on slick roads or in heavy traffic Minimize Someone Rear-Ending Your Vehicle • Make sure turn signals and bake lights are functioning and clean • Use turn signals • Consider placing additional reflective markings on the rear of your vehicle • Allow a safe distance between you and the car in front of you • On highway, move over and allow faster vehicles to pass

Speed Time to go 10 Miles Time Saved Risk of Death

50 mph 12 minutes

55 mph 10 minutes 54 sec- 1 minute 6 seconds 1.5 times

60 mph 10 minutes 2 minutes 2 times

70 mph 8 minutes 34 sec-onds

3 minutes 26 sec-onds

4 times

Defensive Driving

Rear-End Crashes and Distracted Driving (Cell Phones) The National Safety Council estimates that at least 27% of crashes in 2012 involved drivers using cell phones. That comes to 1.1 million crashes with drivers talking on cell phones and 160,000 while texting. The statistics say it all: • An average text message takes 3.71 seconds to read • At 30 mph a car will travel 167’ (55 yards) • 69% of drivers said that, in the last 30 days they have used a cell phone for texting while driving • Approximately 87% of rear-end crashes are caused by the trailing car with some form of cell-phone relat-

ed distraction

Changing Lanes The National Highway Safety Administration estimates there are 630,000 lane change (merge) crashes annual-ly resulting in 225 fatalities. In 60% of these instances the drivers stated they “didn’t see” the other vehicle. Set Mirrors Correctly Driver’s side mirror • Place head against side window, then set mirror so the inside edge of the mirror shows just a small amount

of the side rear of your vehicle as shown here:

Passenger Side Mirror • Place head in center of vehicle, in line with the inside rearview mirror, then set the mirror so the inside

edge shows a small amount of the side and rear of your vehicle as shown here:

Defensive Driving

Backing Up The majority of backing up accidents causing bodily harm involve children under the age of five in parking lots, residential locations, etc… Most accidents when backing up involve the “blind side;” the right side of the vehicle, away from the driver’s seat. Defensive Driving When Backing Up • When possible, always “pull through” in a parking lot • Check behind your vehicle before getting in and backing up • Remember, more mature drivers may have back/neck problems limiting their ability to look over their

shoulder when backing up • Watch for light posts, shopping cart returns, temporary signs, etc…

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) About two in every five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic accident at some time in their lives. It takes one hour to process one ounce of alcohol and the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) in Colora-do is 0.08. Simply put? Do NOT drink and drive! Enough said.

Distracted Driving & Technology Some Revealing Statistics • Drivers on cell phones are five times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers (2006

study from the University of Utah) • In that same study, using a cell phone reduced reaction time by 10% in terms of braking and 20% in terms

of picking up speed after braking • The odds of being in a crash while texting are 23 times higher than when you are driving without distrac-

tion • 75% of all traffic accidents are preceded by some type of driver distraction (recent study from the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration) • A Harvard study estimates that cell phone distractions cause 2,600 traffic deaths each year • Cell phone users have a tendency to “look at,” but not “see” up to 50% of the driving environment infor-

mation (not scanning as frequently), according to National Safety Council’s white paper on “Brain Dis-traction during Cell Phone use while Driving”

House Bill 1094 – State of Colorado Effective December 1, 2009, key provisions include: • Prohibits wireless telephone use while operating a vehicle for anyone

under the age of 18 • Prohibits wireless telephone use to engage in text messaging or other

similar forms of data entry or transmission while operating a vehicle for anyone over the age of 18

• Dictates that a vehicle must be pulled over to the shoulder or in a park-ing space, with the vehicle placed in park to perform manual data entry and transmission (such as texting)

Defensive Driving

Remember! • The plaintiff’s attorney will obtain your cell phone/texting history and MVR and seek to establish “serial

phone call/texting habits” as contributing factor to a collision • The plaintiff’s attorney will seek to establish that cell phone/texting is common and thus the distraction

delayed appropriate response time to avoid the accident • The plaintiff’s attorney will also seek to establish “serial phone call/texting habits with the office” in order

to seek punitive damages

Seat Belts Some Revealing Statistics • You have a 50% better chance of surviving a crash without injury if wearing a seat belt • You have a 45% chance of surviving a serious crash when wearing a seat belt • Nationally 84% of drivers/passengers regularly use their seat belts • In Colorado, 81% of drivers/passengers regularly use their seat belts • Of passengers who died in crashes, 55% were not using their seat belts

Defensive Driving