Managing Risk When Driving

• All Licensed Drivers – 191,275,719

• All Drivers Involvement Rate in Fatal Crashes/100,000 Licensed Drivers – 22.02 (37,795 crashes with 42,116 deaths)

• Aged 16-20 Drivers Involvement Rate in Fatal Crashes/100,000 Licensed Drivers – 63.36 (Male 87.24%, Female 38.06%)

Note: Data is from (FARS) Fatality Analysis Reporting System and (GES) General Estimates System

2001 Motor Vehicle Crash Data

A Few More Numbers

• 1 out of 14 licensed drivers in U.S. are involved in traffic crashes (all ages)

• 1 in 6 licensed drivers in U.S. are involved in traffic crashes (16 to 17)

Motor Vehicle Deaths as Percent of All Deaths (1999)

Age(years)

Male(percent)

Female(percent)

All(percent)

<5 2 2 2

5-9 23 22 23

10-12 22 22 22

13-15 25 31 27

16-17 36 50 40

Note: All includes gender unknowns Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts – Teenagers

Age(years)

Male(percent)

Female(percent)

All(percent)

18-19 36 44 38

20-24 30 29 30

25-34 18 14 17

35-54 5 4 5

>55 1 <1 1

Motor Vehicle Deaths as Percent of All Deaths (1999)

Note: All includes gender unknowns Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Fatality Facts – Teenagers

No Safety in Numbers 16-Year-Olds

More Likely to be Killed than Those Driving Alone– Carrying One Passenger 39%– Carrying Two Passengers Carrying 86%– Three or More Passengers 207%

No Safety in Numbers 17-Year-Olds

More Likely to be Killed than Those Driving Alone– Carrying One Passenger 48%– Carrying Two Passengers 158%– Carrying Three or More Passengers

207%

Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDL) – Three Stages

• Learner’s Permit• Provisional License

(Intermediate, Probationary)• Full/Unrestricted License

Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDL)

Learner’s Permit• Requirements:

– Minimum age (16)– Parental/Guardian/Mentor Cosign if <18– Tests to be taken (vision & written)– Length of permit 1 year (renewable)180 days

before eligible for road test

• If you fail road test you may try 5 more times waiting 7 days between tests, if you fail the 6th time you will have one more chance then you must start the process over.

Learner’s Permit• Limitations

– Accompanied by adult (21+) licensed driver in front passenger seat

– No other front seat passengers– No driving midnight to 6 A.M. (without cause)– Zero alcohol tolerance (0.02 BAC)– Under 18 must complete 4 hour Graduate

Licensing or high school driver ed class

Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDL)

Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDL)

• Sanctions:– License may be suspended

more than six points (under age 18)more than twelve points (18 +)

Young Drivers: The High Risk Years

Definition of Risk: The Chance of

Injury, Damage, or Loss

Factors to Evaluate for Better Risk Management

• Probability– What is the likelihood of a dangerous

event occurring?• Manageability

– What is the manageability of the dangerous event?

• Consequences– Identify and consider alternative

actions.

Characteristics of Risk

• Risk is always present– Probability, Manageability, Consequences

More than 50% of all vehicle

occupant fatalities occur in

single vehicle crashes.

Which situation has more risk?

Characteristics of Risk

• Perceived risk differs from actual risk– Probability, Manageability, Consequences

Characteristics of Risk

• Risk is shared– Probability, Manageability, Consequences

Characteristics of Risk

• Risk can be altered– Probability, Manageability, Consequences

Driving with headlights on makes vehicle visible twice as far. This is an example of altering risk.

Survey of Perceptions on Highway SafetyPerception of Risk and Control

What is the likelihood of a crash?Perceived likelihood of a crash Percent

1 in 5 10.9

1 in 10 12.2

1 in 50 13.4

1 in 100 16.5

1 in 500 11.5

1 in 1000 30.4

Don’t Know 5.1

Perceptions of Risk and Control

How much control do you have?

Amount of Perceived Control Percent

Almost total control 37.4

A lot of control 45.2

Some control 15.1

Very little control 1.7

Survey of Perceptions on Highway Safety

Perceptions of Risk and Control

Who is at fault?

Perceived Most Likely Cause of a Crash Percent

Someone else’s error 58.8

Unavoidable bad luck 16.5

Physical defect in car or road 9.6

My driving error 6.3

Other 6.1

Survey of Perceptions on Highway Safety

Primary Crash Factors(1)• Perceptual failure• Not watching travel path• Driving too fast for conditions• Driving too fast around curves• Pulled out in front of traffic at intersection• Was hit at intersection by another vehicle• Failed to steer/react quick enough

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA)

Primary Crash Factors(2)• Failed to maintain visual lead• Failed to see action developing on the side of

the road• Followed too closely• Willfully took right of way• Distracted

Establishing a Mind Set - Reduced Risk Driving

• Probability of a Dangerous Event Occurring:– Stop sign observance

• 2 out of 3 drivers do not stop at stop signs• In residential areas and/or on 2-lane roads,

90% of drivers do not stop

– Signal light observance• Rush hour, 4 to 5 drivers run red lights

FTYRW & Speeding are the most violated traffic laws

Establishing a Mind Set - Reduced Risk Driving

• Probability of a Dangerous Event Occurring Are High In:– Areas of restricted vision– Areas of reduced space– Areas of reduced traction

• Be prepared to manage a dangerous event– Reduce speed– Improve visibility– Separate threatening elements– Assess traction

Establishing a Mind Set - Reduced Risk Driving

• Understand the consequences of alternative actions: avoid increasing the level of risk

Five ways to Control Risk

• Keep car in top condition

• Anticipate situations

• Always protect yourself & others

• Drive only in sound mental/physical condition

• Continue to improve skills/habitsIt takes a new driver 5 years to reach

the driving ability of an average driver!

Basic Principle of Safe Driving

Wisely manage visibility, time, and space