Risk Management

1
Risk Management

• Transporting Scouts Safely

2
Agenda

• Introduction
• Driver Fatigue
• Multi-passenger vehicles
• Trailers
• Additional concerns

3
Introduction

• What is the most dangerous form of transportation
  in the United States?
• The motor vehicle

4
Statistics

• 6,344,000 police reported traffic crashes per
  year
• 1471 fatalities
• 3,192,000 injuries
• 115 persons die each day in motor vehicle crashes
• Leading cause of death for every age from 5-29
• Vehicle occupants account for 85.3 of fatalities
  (other 14.7 pedestrians, bicyclists, other
  non-occupants)
• 77 of all motor vehicle accidents caused by
  driver error

1998 statistics
5
Motivation

• Why is this important for us?
• Some of the many reasons
• Parents expect their children to be transported
  safely
• A Scout is obedient and obeys traffic laws and
  Scouting guidelines regarding Scout
  transportation
• Leaders and parents are roll models

6
What can we do?

• Use of vehicles is an essential part of Scouting
  activities - we cant do away the means of
  transportation
• We can educate ourselves about the dangers
  involved
• Apply Risk Management principles to make
  transportation as safe as possible

7
Driver Fatigue

• The Risk Zone
• A state of physical an mental fatigue that is a
  major contributor to highway accidents
• Drivers are generally poor judges of their own
  level of fatigue and unable to predict when they
  susceptible to impaired reaction and judgment

8
Danger Signals

• Eyes are burning, feel strained, or are
  involuntarily going out of focus
• Your head nods or you cant stop yawning
• Wandering disconnected thoughts - you cant
  remember driving the last mile or two
• Driving erratically, or at abnormal speeds,
  drifting, tailgating, or missing traffic signs
• You catch yourself about to nod off

9
Tips to avoid fatigue

• Start out well rested - Get a good nights sleep
  beforehand
• Start earlier in the day rather than later.
  Dont drive long distances at night
• Share the driving. Designate relief drivers
• Keep the temperature cool, turn the radio volume
  up
• Stay involved with the driving - no cruise
  control
• Take frequent breaks. Stop every 1-2 hours

10
Drivers Pledge

• I will not drive when I feel fatigued. I
  realize that when I am fatigued, I process
  information more slowly and less accurately, and
  this impairs my ability to react in time to avoid
  accidents.

11
Drivers Pledge

• I will arrange my schedule so that several days
  before a Boy Scout driving trip, I will get a
  good nights sleep every night to avoid the
  cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep.

12
Drivers Pledge

• I will make trip preparations far enough in
  advance so that last minute preparations dont
  interfere with my rest.

13
Drivers Pledge

• I will make travel plans that take into account
  my personal biological clock and will drive only
  during the part of the day when I know I will be
  alert.

14
Drivers Pledge

• I will pace myself if I am a designated driver.
  I will be smart about engaging in physical
  activities during Scouting outings and will make
  sure that I will be ready to drive alert.

15
Multi-passenger vehicles

• Use of multi-passenger vehicles is growing every
  day in Scouting activities
• Transporting large groups of participants
• Room for equipment and gear
• There are significant differences between
  handling a large van and handling a car
• Higher, Wider, Longer, Heavier

16
Multi-passenger vehicles

• Braking
• Greater weight requires more stopping distance
• Allow more reaction time, proper following
  distance
• Accelerating
• Greater weight also causes slower acceleration.
• Dont underestimate how long it will take to come
  up to speed when merging
• Turning
• Higher center of gravity, different perspective
• Slow sooner, turn more slowly to avoid tipping
• Dont cut turns too sharply

17
Multi-passenger vehicles

• Blind Spots
• Larger blind spots, different locations
• Adjust mirrors properly, special considerations
  to identify hazards
• wind
• Greater surface area increases effects of wind
• Drive more slowly when conditions warrant
• Anticipate effects of the current conditions
• Parking
• Less overhead and side clearance, poorer
  maneuverability.
• Look carefully, maneuver slowly

18
Trailers

• Trailers can also be indispensable due to the
  ability to haul equipment
• Contributing factors for accidents
• Driver error
• Excessive speed
• Improper loading of trailer

19
Trailers

• Loading
• 60 weight at front, 40 at rear
• Decrease passenger/gear weight in rear of vehicle
• Increase tire pressure in towing vehicle by 4-5
  psi
• Secure loose items in trailer
• Dont overload beyond listed capacity
• Hitching
• Hitch and ball must be tight and secure
• Always use safety chains, dont let them drag
• Make sure electrical connections are working

20
Trailers

• Towing
• Maintain safe speed
• Anticipate early for hills, turns, weather
  conditions
• Reduce speed for turns, wet road, downgrades.
  Use low gear on downgrades to control speed
• Also
• Never allow passengers to travel in trailer
• Be well rested
• Never pass on hills or curves
• Stop frequently, check hitch, chains and cargo

21
Other considerations

• Seatbelts MUST be worn
• Headlights reduce the risk of head on collision
  by making it easier for others to see you
• Avoid convoying when traveling in groups -
  dont travel too closely, make sure everyone has
  good directions
• Commercial licenses are required for vehicles
  designed to carry more than 15 persons
• Never transport people in the backs or beds of
  trucks, trailers or campers

22
Safety Summary

• Basic Safety Guidelines
• Always use seat belts
• Turn your headlights on for safety
• Dont drive when you are fatigued
• Load, hitch and tow trailers correctly
• Avoid night driving