Preventing the Rear-end Accident

Why Defensive Driving?

• Over 70% of accidents involving a CMV and a car are started by the car driver’s error

• You are less likely to die in a crash with a car than the car driver

• Must protect the public as well as yourself

• By protecting the public you protect yourself and your company

Characteristics of an Unprofessional Driver

• Tailgates and intimidates• Cuts people off• Changes lanes unnecessarily• Excessive speed• Rude, vulgar on CB to other drivers• Thinks the bigger vehicle will win

Characteristics of a Professional Driver

• Courteous• Attentive• “Senses” what others will do…or not do• Does not make risky moves• Allows a “safety cushion” around the

truck• Obeys traffic laws• Safety is #1 priority

What is the Big Deal?

• People remember the one bad driver • They forget the good drivers• Public perception of the industry • Bad perception = more punitive

damages• Less respect• Self-fulfilling prophecy – if you think nobody

cares then you start to think you shouldn’t either

Rear-end Crashes

• Are preventable• Happen frequently• Have high severity

The Accident Prevention Formula

• Recognize the hazard

• Understand the defense or technique

• Act correctly in time

Costs of Accidents to Company

Costs of Accidents to Driver

Rear-ends…the Facts

• Account for 9% of reported truck collisions• Account for 20% of money paid on claims• Preventable almost 100% of the time• Impossible to defend in court

Factors in Rear-end Crashes

• Mental state of driver– Inattention– Distraction– Over confidence

• Physical state of driver– Fatigue

• Emotional state of driver– Frustration– Road Rage

Factors in Rear-end Crashes

• Speed• Poor following distance• Failure to adjust to conditions• Inattention

What Causes Rear-end Crashes?

• Inattention ?• Over confidence ?• Fatigue ?• Physics…cars stop faster than trucks.

Truck doesn’t leave room to compensate for difference. Truck runs over car.

Sad Reality of the Rear-end Crash

• Who usually is riding in the back of a vehicle?• CHILDREN• 8 children killed every week in truck/car

accidents

Preventable Crash

• A crash in which the driver failed to do everything reasonable to avoid it

• More than 87% of all crashes can be attributed to driver error– This means that these crashes can be prevented

by the person behind the wheel

What Affects Your Stopping Distance?

• Load• Road conditions• Reaction time• Vehicle condition

• Weather condition• Type of vehicle• Tires• Driver condition

What do these words mean?

• Perception time• Reaction time• Brake lag

Perception time – the time it takes you to recognize that there is a hazard present. (estimated to be 1 ¾ seconds)Reaction time – the time

it takes you to make a move such as get your foot off the gas and onto the brake. (around 3/4 second)

Brake lag – time it takes the air in the system to activate the brakes. (1/2 second)

The Ride of Your Life

• Perception, reaction, and brake lag time totals about 3 seconds

• During these 3 seconds you travel about 270 feet at 60 mph

• During these 3 seconds you have barely started slowing down

• During these 3 seconds you are hoping and praying that you have enough distance to stop

• During these 3 seconds you are riding an 80,000 pound beast who doesn’t care who it hits

Safe Following Distance

• Never use less than six seconds• If bad weather is present, add one second for each

condition• Reduce speed 3-5 mph in heavy traffic

Car vs. Truck Stopping Distance

When You Increase Your Speed:

• You increase the force of impact in a collision• I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase- “speed kills”

Every Accident Has Loss Fixers

• Adjusters• Attorneys• Doctors• Morticians

The Loss Preventer is You!

Safety is in

Your Hands!

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

HAVE A SAFE TRIP