1. A DIAMOND TECHNICAL
SERVICES COMPANY

2. • Construction has begun again on Des Plaines
Bridge
• Already accidents (Specifically Rear End
Collisions) have Occurred
• Last summer two people were killed while
waiting in stopped traffic along Interstate 55
• What can we do to prevent an Accident?
• How should we react if an accident is Inevitable?

3. • A Significant amount of our employees will use
either 55 North or South for going to work/home
• 55 North/South is utilized to visit some of our
clients such as: Exxon Mobil, Loders Croklaan,
Styrolution, Stepan
• Learning for last years experiences could
prevent a injury or fatality this year

4. 1) According to government statistics, rear-end collisions
are the type of crashes that occur the most frequently
2) Such collisions are responsible for about 29 percent of
all car accidents nationwide
3) About 81 percent of rear-end accidents occurred when
the lead vehicle was completely stopped
4) Most rear-end collisions occur during daytime hours on
dry, straight and level roads
5) Male drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 were 1.9
times more likely than other age groups to be involved
in a rear-end collision

5. • Citations Issued From July to November 2013: 4,836
• Warnings issued From July to November 2013: 699
• Speeding Tickets Issued: 3,125
• Speeding Warnings: 54
• DUI Tickets: 14

6. • Drug and Alcohol Tickets: 8
• No Insurance: 384
• No Seat Belts Worn: 152
• Distracted Driving including Texting:
355
• Distracted Driver Warnings: 44

7. • ACTUAL CRASHES: 172
• MOTORIST ASSIST CALLS: 497
• EXAMPLES: Flat Tires, Broke Down Cars, Over-Heating
Cars, etc.

8. • FINES- Start at a Minimum of $375 Traffic
Violations in Construction Zones
• Second Offenses: $1000 Fine and a 90 Day
Suspension of License
• Construction Zone Speed Limits are in Effect at
ALL TIMES not just when Workers are Present

9. • Article in Joliet Herald News April 9
• Driver of Tanker Truck was “Distracted”
• What? Bent down to get a Can of Soda
• When? 11:50AM Tuesday Morning
• Where? The Southbound lanes of 55 at Route 6
• Who? 38 yrs. old driver from Indiana
• The truck that was struck was destroyed from
being pinned between two Semitrailers

10. • Article in Joliet Herald News 4/15/14
• 25 yrs. Old from Dwight
• Driving 118 mph in a Construction Zone
• Also Intoxicated, disobeying a Traffic
Control Device, and Driving without his
License
• Occurred At 55 and Blodgett Rd

11. 1) Look farther up the road to spot traffic stopping long
before the vehicle in front of you slams on its brakes
2) Check your mirrors more often. Drivers should be
checking their mirrors every five to eight seconds and
then again when slowing or stopping
3) Stay focused on your driving. There may not have
been any vehicles behind you when you initially
stopped, but they could be rushing up behind you as
you sit and wait

12. • 4) As you slow to a stop, identify an escape route. Think of the
shoulder, sidewalk, curb lane, left turn lane or any other safe
route where you can get out of the way of a charging vehicle
• Possible Escape Routes

13. • 5) Never rush up to a stop sign or red light.
Always slow gradually and this will force the
vehicle behind you to also slow more gradually.
• 6) When you stop, leave two or three vehicle
lengths between you and the vehicle in front of
you. If you pull up tight behind the vehicle in
front, you have locked yourself into a potential
danger zone, eliminating any options of escape

14. • 7) Check your brake lights frequently. A simple 25-cent fuse
can blow and leave your car without any brake lights
• 8) While stopped, visualize what you can do should the vehicle
behind you not show signs of stopping in time. Go over in your
mind that you need to get off the brake and steer where you
want to go. Most drivers will simply push on their brake harder
when being struck from behind in an instinctual reaction to a
crash
• 9) Leave more space between you and the vehicle in front
• 10) If drivers follow too closely, do not brake hard in order to
scare them off. This can easily end up resulting in a rear-end
collision. Simply slow gradually at the next available passing
zone and they will eventually pass you

15. Account for 29% of all automobile claims
Account for 38% of the dollars paid for all automobile

16. • A- ALERT AT ALL TIMES
• C- CHECK MIRRORS OFTEN
• K- KEEP FOCUSED AT THE WHEEL
• N- NEED AN ESCAPE ROUTE
• O- OFFER YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO STOP
• W- WAIT 2-3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND
• L- LIGHTS MUST WORK
• E- EMERGENCY PREPARED
• D- DISTANCE MATTERS
• G- GRADUALLY SLOW DOWN
• E- EVERYONE GETS HOME SAFELY