Effective All Round Driver Safety

1. DEFENSIVE DRIVING AND
VEHICLE CHECK COURSE

2. What is Defensive Driving?
ANSWER:
Defensive driving is driving that follows certain rules,
procedures and guidelines in order to save lives, time and
money in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of
others. A defensive driver can drive safely regardless of the
conditions in which he or she is driving and regardless of the
behavior of other road users.
Developing defensive driving habits
means:
Making safe and legal driving decisions.
Creating a safe, stress-free personal driving space in and
around your vehicle.
Driving to your destination safely—without a ticket or a
crash, and without affecting other drivers’ safety.
Practicing common sense, courtesy, and cooperation.
Recognizing the risks of hazardous driving behaviors and
conditions

3. What is Defensive Driving?
A defensive driver does everything reasonable to avoid a collision
or ticket. If that means slowing down in bad weather, the defensive
driver slows down. The facts show that the majority of collisions
are preventable. What’s even more important is that violations are
the cause of most collisions.
NSC defensive driving programs focus on getting drivers to think
about their attitudes and behaviors which may lead them to be
involved in collisions.
Defensive driving requires drivers to link their actions to the
potential consequences and to think about the consequences to
themselves, their family and friends and relating to their work and
finances.
Research shows that drivers who take defensive driver training
programs have a much lower accident rate
NSC defensive driving programs can be delivered in different
formats that last 4 to 8 hours. It is a classroom-based program.
In other words …..

4. 4
Why should you improve your
driving skills?
In 2006 over 2,400,000 people received
disabling injuries in traffic collision. At
least 40,000 of these people died.
Over 70% of all collisions are caused by
driver error - in other words, by poor
driving skills.
Costs of death, injury, and property
damage due to collision exceeds $170
billion per year.

5. 5
Are these statistics acceptable?
Because statistics are not personal,
most people do not think about
collisions until they or someone they
know are involved.
In your lifetime, you have a one in
three chance of being involved in a
fatal collision.
You can make a difference…

6. 6
Fleet Incidents; Indirect/ direct costs
 Retention or deductibles
 Direct repair costs
 Decreased morale
 Increased premiums
 Lost productivity
 Hiring/ training costs new
staff
 Delayed/ missing
 Lost sales/ negative publicity
 Investigations, meetings and
administrative burden
 Legal fees
 Uninsured damaged property
 Replacement vehicle

7. TRAINING?
Driving is something we all do
daily.
It’s the most dangerous thing we
do, and is the number one killer
of those under 50 years of age.
It’s responsible for over 50% of
all work-related fatalities.

8. WHY DRIVER TRAINING?
 Drivers & Operators are
responsible for safe operation of
company vehicle & equip!
Company’s name rides with you
wherever you go!
Company driver’s & truck becomes
advertisement that can build good
will and respect for your company

9. General Discussion
Why Accidents Occur?
 Most frequent causes of
accidents
Inattention to detail
Speeding
DWI/DUI
Driving too fast for conditions
Failed to yield

10. Continuation
 Other Factors:
Road conditions
Weather related & Physical
conditions
Vehicle Maintenance
Tires tread wear/pressure
Brakes

11. General Discussion
Accident Costs?
 Physical Damage - Your Vehicle
 Property Damage - Destroyed
Property
 Medical Costs - Yours &
Passengers
 Liability Costs - Other Vehicle(s)
physical damage
 Other(s) injuries $$$$$$$

12. General Discussion
Driver Expectations?
 Your Company expects high
standards of performance,
including safe driving.
 Your Company expects not just
safe driving performance, but award
winning safety performance.
 Why?
Because it’s possible, Cost
effective, Right thing to do!

13. 13
Are YOU a defensive driver?
Attempt to recognize potentially
hazardous situations sufficiently in
advance to allow time to safely maneuver
past them.
Assume that other drivers will make
mistakes and are proactive with a number
of outs/ solutions.

14. 14
FOCUS (5) Important characteristics of a
defensive driver
 Knowledge
 Alertness
 Foresight
 Judgment
 Skill

15. 15
Defensive Driving Behaviors for
Great Success
Focus your attention
Eliminate distractions
Scan ahead and around
Communicate with other drivers
Obey traffic signs and signals
Maintain safety “cushion”
Anticipate others actions
Plan, have an escape route
Cover the brake

16. 16
The Driving Equation: Conditions and Environment
What are some physical conditions that would
effect the driver?
What and How?
1)Age
2)Vision
3)Hearing
4)Mobility
5)Illness
6)Fatigue
7)Stress

17. 17
Common High Risk Mistakes
1)Following too closely
2)Improper speed
3)Ignoring traffic sign, signals,
conditions
4) Driving under the influence
5) Driving fatigued

18. 15 in 30
1) Pre-Trip Inspection
 Take a walk around your
vehicle.
Windows clean?
Lights/signals clean & working.
Tires properly inflated / tread wear.
Fluid leaks on the ground.
Plates current???

19. 15 in 30
2) Inside the Vehicle
 Adjust your seat and fasten
seat belt
 Check and adjust all Mirrors
 Adust your Headrest
 Assure doors fully closed
and secured
 Scan the gauges

20. Continuation
 Check windows/windshield
 Adjust the vents, windows,
heater & air conditioner
 Make sure you’re emotionally
ready to focus on driving

21. 15 in 30
3) Your State Of Mind
 Mental State
Stress / Emotions / Attitudes
Drowsiness / Fatigue
Vision / Hearing
Alcohol

22. Defensive Driving
 Alcohol and Driving Facts
Alcohol involvement increases greatly at night
and on weekends.
48% of all motor vehicle deaths occur between
3 p.m. and midnight.
More occur on Saturday than on any other day
of the week.
Among passenger vehicle drivers who were
fatally injured between 9 p.m. and 6am
63% have BACs at or above 0.10%.
50% have BAC at or above 0.10% on
weekends

23. Defensive Driving
Alcohol and Driving Facts
(Continued)
Impaired driving contributes to
nearly 50% of all fatal collisions.
Alcohol related crashes more
likely to involve men than women.
Rates are highest for males (21 -
24).
For drivers in that age group, 35%
were intoxicated with a BAC > 0.10%.

24. Defensive Driving
 Alcohol and Driving Facts (Continued)
A drink is defined as:
a 12 oz. can of beer (5% alcohol content)
One and one half oz. of 80 proof distilled
spirits
a 5 oz. glass of 12% alcohol content wine.
Each of these drinks contains the same
amount of alcohol.
It takes approximately one hour for the body to
eliminate one drink.
Lite beer has the same amount of alcohol as
regular beer.

25. Defensive Driving
Judgment
It can affect spatial perception.
Impaired judgment can result in
greater risk taking, like pulling out
in front of another vehicle when it
is not safe to do so.

26. Defensive Driving
Cognitive Functions
Impaired drivers tend to scan their
environment less often.
Have difficulty dividing attention
and competently performing more
than one task at a time.
Impaired drivers frequently forget
to turn on headlights, or lower their
brights.

27. Defensive Driving
Cognitive Functions (Continued)
Impaired drivers tend to stare at
objects, unable to maintain mental
focus.
Impaired drivers change speeds
without reason and make frequent
lane changes.
They may overshoot a stop sign or
completely disregard it.

28. Defensive Driving
 Vision
Impaired vision affects normal rapid eye
movement. REM assists in peripheral vision.
Impaired rapid eye movement results in
tunnel vision. This can cause a driver to
see less on either side or to be less
attentive to what the eyes see.
Alcohol impaired vision may also cause night
blindness or glare blindness. It takes longer
for eyes to readjust from partial darkness to a
brightly lit environment.

29. Defensive Driving
Response time.
Response time is profoundly
slowed.
Driver’s critical thinking skills
inhibits quick decisions.

30. Defensive Driving
 Measured in BAC
BAC refers to the % of alcohol in the blood.
Measured by the concentration of alcohol in
the breath, blood or urine.
A BAC reading of 0. 10 is like having one drop
of alcohol in 1,000 drops of blood.
BAC of 0.10, seven times more likely to be
involved in a fatal collision than a sober driver.
BAC of 0.15, 25 times more likely, at 0.20, 100
times more likely to have a fatal collision.

31. Defensive Driving
Drugs
There are five basic groups of
drugs.
depressants
stimulants
narcotics
hallucinogens
cannabis

32. Defensive Driving
Depressant
Affects the CNS, depresses
cardiovascular and pulmonary
functions. Some depressants are:
alcohol
antihistamines
barbiturates
tranquilizers

33. Defensive Driving
Depressants can affect driving
ability by:
Slowing down reaction time.
Depressing motor skills.
Causing drowsiness.
Reducing alertness.
Impairing coordination.

34. Defensive Driving
Stimulants
amphetamines
cocaine
caffeine tablets
diet pills

35. Defensive Driving
Many drivers use stimulants to
"help them stay awake."
However, stimulants mask
natural fatigue.

36. Defensive Driving
Stimulants can cause a driver to:
overreact.
feel a false sense of driving
capability, leading to high risk
behaviors.
be aggressive and hostile toward
other drivers.
become impatient and impulsive in
some situations.

37. Defensive Driving
Narcotics
heroin/opium
morphine
methadone

38. 38
Defensive Driving
Common High Risk Mistakes
1)Following too closely
2)Improper speed
3)Ignoring traffic sign, signals,
conditions
4) Distracted Driving
5) Driving Under the influence

39. Ten Habits of Defensive Driving
1) Always wear your safety belt in any vehicles.
2) Evaluate driving conditions —
 you (your physical, mental and emotional condition),
 your vehicle,
 conditions around you.
3) Avoid impaired driving (e.g., alcohol or drugs)
4) Recognize hazards using the “What If?” strategy.
For example, what if the car in front of you, which is moving at a slower
speed than you, appears to be weaving and you want to get into the
next lane; could you likely have a collision with that car). The What If
strategy anticipates actions of others or road conditions or other
factors that could result in an accident and makes you think about your
potential driving actions and whether they could result in an accident.
5) Avoid distracted driving (texting, cell phone use, eating while
driving, putting on makeup while driving, etc.)

40. Ten Habits of Defensive Driving
6) Always maintain emotional control —Reflect, Reframe, Refocus
 Reflect: Ask yourself, “Why am I getting angry? Is there really
anything I can safety do to change the situation?”
 Reframe: Think about the situation. “What can I do that will help
me maintain control?”
 Refocus: Think about something else, not the situation(s) causing
you stress.
7) Avoid fatigued driving.
8) Maintain the proper following distance.
9) Always have a plan. Use the DDC Collision Prevention Formula:
 Recognize the hazard.
 Understand the defense or strategy you would take to avoid the
hazard
 Act correctly, in time to avoid the hazard
10) Consider other drivers —communicate, be courteous and have
patience.

41. Defensive driving basics
Stay alert to changes
Look well ahead
Observe the entire
situation
1a

42. Defensive driving basics
Recognize potential hazards
Decide on an
appropriate
response
Carry out your plan
1b
What would your response to this situation be?

43. 43
Defensive Driving: Recognize
the hazard!
1)Another driver is tailgating you
or driving aggressively
2)Traffic conditions are heavy
3)Road conditions are slippery
4)You are approaching an
intersection controlled by a
stoplight
5)Others

44. 44
Defensive Driving:
Understand the defense!
1)Another driver is tailgating you
or driving aggressively
2)Traffic conditions are heavy
3)Road conditions are slippery
4)You are approaching an
intersection controlled by a
stoplight
5)Others

45. 45
Defensive Driving: Act Correctly
and in Time
Speed up
Slow down
Veer left
Veer right
STOP
Others

46. Defensive Driving Basics
Slow Down on Rain-slicked Streets
Hydroplaning is a frightening experience and can cause
serious and fatal crashes
Maintain a Safe Following Distance- minimum 4
seconds
Look out for road construction and detours as most
road construction take place during the summer
Slow Down Even in Good Weather
Watch out for children playing in the streets, people will
be out cycling, skating or walking
What is the number one cause of vehicle crashes in the US ?

47. Defensive Driving basics
 REDUCE YOUR DRIVING SPEED IN ADVERSE
ROAD AND/OR WEATHER CONDITIONS
 ENTER CURVES SLOWLY
 REDUCE YOUR SPEED BEFORE ENTERING AN
EXIT/ENTRANCE RAMP
 DRIVE SLOWLY WITH A LOADED TRAILER
 SLOW DOWN IN WORK ZONES

48. Seeing and being seen
Keep the windshield and mirrors
clean and clear
Use mirrors
Constantly scan
traffic to the
front and sides
2a

49. Seeing and being seen
Look 10 to 12 seconds ahead in
the city
Look further
ahead on the
highway
2b
What should you be looking for ?

50. Seeing and being seen
Use mirrors before
changing speed or
position in traffic
Signal all turns and
lane changes
2c

51. Seeing and being seen
Keep signal on until move is
completed
Keep lights
on for safety
Avoid distractions
2d
What are some common distractions

52. City driving
Keep your eyes moving –
continually scan
Check all mirrors
Watch the
taillights
3a

53. City driving
Bikes and pedestrians
Driveways, alleyways, parking lot
entrances/exits
Overhead wires,
delivery vans,
and dumpsters
3b

54. City driving
Make sure there’s
enough space
When stopped in traffic, wait to
proceed until the
vehicle ahead
has moved
3c

55. City driving
Watch your speed
Plan your route accordingly
3d

56. Intersections
 It takes longer to cross due to additional length and
slower acceleration
 Go slow and watch for vehicles, pedestrians, people,
bikes, etc.
 At busy unmarked intersections
stop, assume you don’t have
the right of way
5a

57. Intersections
When approaching a controlled
intersection stop two times
First, at the
stop sign or
light
Second, after easing forward to a
point where you can clearly see
oncoming traffic
5c

58. Merging
Size up the traffic conditions
Signal early
Watch for an
opening
6a

59. Merging
Build up speed
Watch the
mirrors
Watch for
oncoming
traffic
6b

60. DISTRACTED DRIVING!
40% of Accidents worldwide are
caused by distracted driving!

61. 61

62. The Distracted Driving Problem
Driver distractions have joined alcohol and speeding as
leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes.
The National Safety Council estimates 25 percent of all
crashes in 2008 involved talking on cell phones – accounting
for 1.4 million crashes and 645,000 injuries in the U.S. that
year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates
that at any point during a day, 11% of drivers are talking on
cell phones.
Although texting is clearly a serious distraction, NSC data
shows drivers talking on cell phones are involved in more
crashes. More people are talking on cell phones while driving
more often, and for greater lengths of time, than they are
texting. Thus, in 2008, an estimated 200,000 crashes involved
texting or emailing, versus 1.4 million crashes involving
talking on cell phones.

63. What is the Risk?
Cell phone drivers have slower reaction times and
are more likely to get in a crash than drunk drivers
(at the .08 blood alcohol content level)
More than 100,000,000 drivers in the U.S. engage in
the concurrent use of a cell phone while operating
a motor vehicle
Currently, there are 270 million cell phone
subscribers in the U.S.
Today, 4 billion people use cell phones around the
globe.
80% admit to phone use while driving

64. What is the Risk?
Cell phone users are 4x more likely to be in
a crash.
The principal distraction is cognitive:
conversations cause “inattention
blindness” – looking but not seeing.
One study reports people engaged in phone
conversations see up to ½ less than other
drivers.
Attention is withdrawn from the processing of information in
the driving environment necessary for safe operation of the
vehicle.

65. Hand-Held vs. Hands-Free
“Inattention blindness” is the principal issue.
It’s not where your hands are, it’s where
your head is.
Multiple studies report no difference in
cognitive distraction of a conversation
between hands-free and hand-held phones.
Dialing slightly increases crash risk, but
conversations endure much longer, leading
to greater crash involvement.

66. Cell Phone vs. Passenger Conversations
Passengers share awareness of the
driving situation, which is a safety
benefit.
A front seat passenger reduces the
risk of a crash to 38% of that of a cell
phone conversation.
Adults with passengers have lower
crash rates than adults without
passengers.

67. Cell Phones vs. Other Distractions
Cell Phone conversations are MUCH higher
risk distractions than listening to radio or
music, eating, drinking and talking to
passengers.
Certain distractions have higher crash risks
(reading, turning around in the seat), but are
engaged in less frequently.
TALKING ON CELL PHONES MAY NOT BE THE
RISKIEST THING WE DO IN OUR CARS, BUT IT
IS INVOLVED IN THE MOST CRASHES.

68. 68
Defensive Driving: Following
Distances
At 25mph, how many feet does
your vehicle travel in 1 second?
How long might your attention
be diverted for routine tasks?

69. 69
Stopping Distances…

70. 70
Defensive Driving: Stopping
Distance
STOPPING DISTANCE =
Reaction Distance+ Braking Distance

71. 71
Defensive Driving: Following
Distances
At 25mph, how many feet does your
vehicle travel in 1 second?
37fps @ 25mph
81fps @ 55mph
117fps @ 80mph
How long might your attention be
diverted for routine tasks?

72. 72
Intersection Safety Formula
 Know, slow, show, go
 Know - Know what’s going on around your vehicle, where
you are going, and the traffic laws
 Slow - Slow down when you approach an intersection,
cover the brake (reduces reaction time)
 Show - Show Other drivers what you are doing
 Go - Go through the intersection when it is clear, safe and
your turn

73. 6) Lane Changes
 Check to make sure there is enough
room.
 Signal your intentions.
 Check your blind spot and space again.
 Make the lane change.
 Blind Spots
Don’t drive in someone else’s.
Make yourself as visible as possible.
(*At all times)

74. 7) Line Markings
Yellow lines - Traffic in both
directions.
White lines - One way traffic.
Broken - Passing allowed.
Solid - No passing.

75. 8) Sign Postings
 Regulatory
- Red &White
 Warning
 - Yellow &Black
 Construction
- Orange
 Guide Signs- Blue/Back/Green

76. 9) Right-Of-Way
 At an intersection, vehicle on
the right has the right to go first.
Be aware of pedestrians and
school crossing.
Scan the intersection/stop at the
limit line
Reminder: NO One is
guaranteed the right of way.

77. 10) Backing
 Look at your path.
 Back slowly.
 Back to the driver’s side when
possible.
 Use a helper when possible.

78. 11) Ramps (On / Off)
 Obey speed limits posted.
Speed limits designed for autos;
larger vehicles need to go slower.
 Exits merging downhill are
particularly dangerous.
Adjust speed and position
Be familiar with surrounding

79. 12) Railroad Crossings
 The cross buck is found at most
public crossings.
 These signs should be treated in the
same manner as a yield sign.

80. Driving in Darkness
● Use your high beams whenever possible in open
country or dark city streets, as long as it is not illegal.
Do not blind other drivers with your high beam
headlights. Dim your lights when necessary. If another
driver does not dim his/her lights:
Do not look directly into the oncoming headlights
Look toward the right edge of your lane.
Watch the oncoming vehicle out of the corner of
your eye.
Don’t try to “get back” at the other driver by keeping
your bright lights on. If you do, both of you may be
blinded.

81. Driving in Darkness, cont.
When you drive at night, remember:
Pedestrians and bicyclists are much harder to
see at night, so stay alert for them.
Motorcycles are also harder to see at night
because most have only one taillight.
More highway construction takes place at
night. Reduce your speed in highway
construction zones.

82. Driving in Darkness, cont.
When you drive at night, remember:
When you leave a brightly-lit place, drive
slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
Drive as far to the right as possible, when a
vehicle with one light drives toward you. It
could be a bicyclist or motorcyclist, but it
could also be a vehicle with a missing
headlight.

83. What to do if a crash is unavoidable
Do not swerve out of your land or
loose control of your vehicle
It is generally safer to hit the deer
then to risk hitting another
motorist or running off the road.
Apply your breaks firmly and hold
the steering wheel firmly
Bring your vehicle to a controlled
stop

84. 84
ACCIDENTS: Collect
Information
 Complete accident report
 Record time, date, names, numbers, addresses,
license numbers
 Sketch/ diagram intersection, roadway, etc.
 DO NOT MAKE A STATEMENT
 DO NOT APOLIGIZE/ BLAME
 DO NOT DISCUSS ACCIDENT WITH OTHER
PARTIES
 SIGN ONLY POLICE REPORT OR SUMMONS

85. 15) Accident Reporting
Report any accident immediately,
no matter how minor.
Get a police report whenever
possible.

86. Driver Training
Don’t Get Caught in an accident!