Driver Safety 101

1
Driver Safety 101
By Richard Buttenshaw
2
What is the cost?

• Workers Comp Vehicle Accident Losses

Year Claims Severity
2003 51 618,230
2004 134 665,997
2005 94 449,113
2006 64 260,909
data as of June
Data not tracked prior to 2003
3
What is the cost?

• Vehicle Property/Liability Claims Losses

Year Claims Severity
2000 333 1,215,707
2001 482 2,089,681
2002 711 3,245,355
2003 829 3,453,304
2004 947 5,010,526
2005 1011 4,257,198
4
Things I will NOT be covering

• How to drive
• Obey the speed limits
• Check your mirrors
• Signal before you turn

I will assume that everyone driving your vehicles
has passed the test !
( See Vehicle Accident Review Guidelines handout )
5
Who should be driving?

• Run Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs)
• As part of the hiring process
• At least every 3 years
• insurance penalties if you dont !
• Have a written policy
• How to get MVRs
• Send in form to Driver License Division in
  Montgomery
• 5.75 per person
• Online service (www.alabama.gov)
• 75 per year plus 5.75 per person

( See Performing MVRs handout )
6
What should you be driving?

• Does the vehicle require a special license or
  training?
• For example CDL
• More than 26,000 pounds?
• Can carry 16 people?
• Emergency vehicles
• EVOC training
• What is a street legal vehicle ?
• Golf carts - ATVs
• Backhoes - Tractors

7
Any one can drive a van

• A 15 passenger (plus the driver) vehicle requires
  a CDL.
• 15-passenger vans should be operated by
  experienced drivers.
• At least 25 years old with at least 3 years
  driving experience
• A speed that may be acceptable in a passenger car
  could be dangerous in a van.
• Avoid sharp and abrupt maneuvers.
• You should fill the front seats first.
• When the center of gravity shifts to the rear and
  upward increasing the likelihood of rollover as
  capacity increases.
• 15-passenger vans should require seat belt use at
  all times.
• A load placed on the roof will increase the
  likelihood of rolling over.

( See Vehicle Safety Training Checklist handout )
8
Vehicle Inspections

• Improper vehicle maintenance
• Inadequate brakes
• Worn tread on tires
• Hoses, belts
• Inadequate acceleration
• Headlight(s) out
• Establish an inspection program
• Before each use
• Weekly and monthly
• As per the manufacturer
• Documentation

( See Vehicle Maintenance Inspection handout )
9
Unsafe Conditions

• Poor visibility
• Night time driving
• (Fatality rates/mile are 4 times higher at
  night)
• Rain storms
• Windshield wipers not effective
• Poor road conditions
• Slippery surfaces from weather
• Localized flooding

10
Who needs to wear a seat belt?

• They help save lives
• - so everyone
• Its the law
• - so everyone
• Its city policy
• - so everyone

( See Seat Belt Safety handout )
Question Why do we need a city policy if its
the law ?
11
What did we do before cell phones?

• Good communications is important
• Cell phones
• Two way radios
• Push to talk phones
• Hands free systems
• Written policy

( See Cell Phone Use handout )
12
Other Distractions

• Writing down a note
• Train people to pull over before attempting to
  write.
• Eating food
• Have a city policy on not eating while driving.
• Smoking
• Have a city policy on not smoking in city
  vehicles.
• Road rage
• Just let it go!
• Animals running out into the road
• Skid car training!

13
I wonder how close can I get?

• Is tailgating taught in drivers ed?
• You cant react as quickly as you think.

14
Parking and Backing Up

• 30 of all accidents are backing and parking
  related (national statistics)
• Front end clipping
• Use your blinkers
• Unfamiliarity with the vehicle
• Different size
• Different turning radius
• Adjust the mirrors
• In an ideal world
• Avoid backing if possible
• Back in / drive out
• Use a spotter
• Use reverse audible signal (or the horn)

15
Working at the side of the road

• Require wearing reflective vests
• Use flashing lights on the vehicle
• On top
• Built-in
• Use cones
• Use flagmen if necessary

Remember no precaution is too much
16
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices Federal Highway Administration www.mutcd.
fhwa.dot.gov Building Safer Highway Work
Zones CDC and NIOSH www.cdc.gov/niosh/2001128.htm
l
17
Driver Training The Skid Car

• Our pro-active defensive driving program is
  headed up by Stanley Fant retired State Trooper
• State of the art technology
• Simulation of adverse driving conditions at high
  rates of speed yet performed safely at relatively
  low speeds
• Prepares the student to drive equipping him/her
  to recognize and correct for an imminent skid or
  slide while maneuvering during emergency
  operations

18
Operation Lifesaver

• Statistics
• In 2005 Alabama had 111 crossing collisions
• 8th highest in the nation
• In 2005 Alabama had 16 fatalities
• 8th highest in the nation
• Resource
• Operation Lifesaver
• Nancy Hudson
• 1400 Norfolk Southern Drive, RM 116Birmingham,
  AL  35210
• Tel [phone]Fax [phone]

www.oli.org
19
Resources our video library

• Winter Driving 5.046
• Driving Safety 5.048
• Driving Distractions 5.049
• Backing and Parking 5.050
• Trucks, Vans and Other Delivery Vehicles
  5.051
• Why Do We Drive the Way We Do 5.052
• Barricade Safety 1 15.001
• Barricade Safety 2 15.002
• Flagging 15.003
• Highway Work Zone Safety 15.005

• City Driving 5.004
• City Driving Tactics 5.005
• Driving Defensively 1 5.011
• Driving Defensively 2 5.012
• Good Driving is an Attitude 5.016
• Intersections 5.019
• Night Driving Tactics 5.024
• Pulling Trailers 5.031
• Safe Driving 5.033
• Traffic Safety 5.040
• Utility Vans Part 1 5.041
• Utility Vans Part 2 5.042
• Vehicle Safety 5.043

20
Other Resources

• Sample Fleet Safety Manual
• See handout
• Sample Driving Policies
• City of Montgomery
• City of Mobile
• See handout

21
Our Websites

• www.alalm.org
• Alabama League of Municipalities
• www.amicentral.org
• Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp

22
The Bottom Line

• From the Alabama Department of Public Safety 2005
  Report
• Number of accidents 143,948
• Number killed 1,134
• Number injured 44,155

In Alabama In 1 year
23
Questions?
Thank You.