This document provides information on defensive driving techniques for different age groups of drivers, safety tips, and hazard awareness. It discusses that younger drivers aged 16-20 have the highest number of aggressive driving crashes, while drivers tend to drive more cautiously after age 30. Key safety tips included are maintaining adequate following distance, checking mirrors frequently, scanning ahead, wearing seatbelts, driving within your abilities, and adjusting driving based on road and weather conditions. The document emphasizes defensive driving practices like avoiding confrontations, allowing other vehicles to merge safely, and using horns sparingly.

1. EPC of JIC Cooling Plant 098-C58
Dawood Akbar
Azmeel HSE Department
(098-C58)
DEFENSIVE DRIVING

2. Youthful Drivers
(Under 25)
• Account for 28% of drivers involved in collisions
• Quicker at reacting to hazards
• Slower at detecting and recognizing hazards
Defensive Driving

3. Middle Age Drivers
(25 – 54)
• More experience and time behind the wheel
• Driving destinations tend to have a purpose
• Stress and fatigue caused by work or family influences
driving
Defensive Driving

4. Mature Drivers
(55 & Older)
• Drive more slowly
• Drivers within their capabilities
• Drive shorter distances
• Have a lot of experience behind the wheel
• Drive on familiar streets and roads
Defensive Driving

5. Safety Belts
• 80% of people killed in rollovers were not wearing them.
• Ejection results in many injuries and deaths.
• In a roll over without a safety belt, the body typically
impacts the interior of the vehicle as it is thrown about.
Defensive Driving

6. Lap/shoulder safety belts
reduce risk of moderate-to-
fatal injuries by approximately
50%.
Air bags for driver & passenger
combined with lap/shoulder
belts reduce risk of fatality by
another 10%.
Defensive Driving

7. Mirror Adjustment
In a normal seating position, you should not be able to see any part of
your own vehicle in the side-view mirrors.
Adjust the side-view mirrors just beyond the point where you could
see the side of the car on the inside edge of the mirror.
Defensive Driving

8. Steering
• Both hands on the wheel at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock
positions.
• Reduce speed for obstacles in the road and proceed
cautiously when possible.
• Do not apply the brake quickly while turning or you could spin
the vehicle.
• Do not turn any more than needed to clear whatever is in
your path.
Defensive Driving

9. Braking
• Brake early and smoothly.
• When you apply the brakes, your vehicle does not stop – it
slows to a stop.
• The faster you are driving, the farther your vehicle will travel
before it stops.
Cover your brakes when:
• You suspect the other vehicle may not yield or stop.
• Traveling through an intersection.
• There is stop-and-go traffic in the area.
• Children are playing.
• In a parking lot.
• In residential areas.
Defensive Driving

10. Stopping Distance
The distance it takes for an average passenger car to come to
a complete stop.
• Varies depending on several factors: speed, condition of
the driver, the vehicle, the road, and the weather
• Stopping Distance = Reaction Time + Braking Distance
Defensive Driving

11. Stopping Distance
Reaction time
• The length of time it takes visual information to be sent to
the part of the brain that makes a motion judgment and
action begins
• A person average Reaction Time is ¾ of a second
• To calculate – take the 1st digit of your speedometer
reading and add it to your speed
Defensive Driving

12. Stopping Distance
4 Second Plus Rule
City traffic: 4 second gap in perfect conditions
• Add additional seconds for each adverse condition
• Being tailgated by a car? add 2 seconds
• Being tailgated by a semi? add 6 seconds
• Following a motorcycle? add 1 second
• Wet Pavement? add 1 second
• Reduced visibility? add 1 second
• Towing a trailer? add 1 second for each 10 ft of additional
vehicle, but no less than 2 seconds
Defensive Driving

13. Stopping Distance
Braking Distance
The distance the vehicle travels once the brake is applied
• 20 MPH: 18 – 20 feet
• 55 MPH: 132 – 164 feet
• 65 MPH: 196 – 245 feet
Defensive Driving

14. Stopping Distance and Speed
• Stopping distance increases as speed increases.
• Double your speed and you have four times as much
momentum and will take a lot longer to stop.
Defensive Driving

15. Driving in Traffic
• Always attempt to scan 15 seconds ahead of where you are.
• Following distance behind the vehicle in front of you.
• 4 seconds in the city
• 3 seconds on the highway
15 Seconds
Defensive Driving

16. • Use a 2-second delayed start before proceeding from a
stopped position.
• This delay prevents rear-end collisions after false starts and
allows the intersection to clear
Driving in Traffic
Defensive Driving

17. • When stopping behind another vehicle, make sure you can
see the rear tires.
• Watch your mirrors.
• This gap is your escape route if a vehicle is likely to hit you
from the rear.
Driving in Traffic
Defensive Driving

18. Scan and monitor all space around your vehicle.
• Try to keep a gap on either side that you can use in an
emergency.
• Keep your eyes moving
• Avoid staring at one object for too long.
• Practice scanning around your vehicle every 10 seconds.
• For better visibility, separate from vehicles that block your
view – trucks, vans, etc.
Driving in Traffic
Defensive Driving

19. Highway Driving
• Avoid lane changes unless absolutely necessary.
• Always use your signals with ample notice to other drivers.
• When merging, signal and move steadily into the drive-lane.
• Don’t cut off other vehicles.
• Don’t drive in other cars’ blind spots.
• When changing lanes, use both mirrors and a brief head-turn
back.
• Have the front seat passenger assist you, if needed.
Defensive Driving

20. Common unsafe driving practices
Failing to stop or yield
Tailgating
Not using blinkers
Using Cell Phones
Driving at an unsafe speed
Unsafe passing of another vehicle
Not using a seatbelt
Driving at an unsafe speed is the most common error in fatal accidents.
What other bad practices have you seen on our roadways?
Defensive Driving

21. Defensive Driving

22. Driving under the influence of anger.
Provoked by:
• Feeling endangered by someone else’s driving
• Resentment at being forced to slow down
• Righteous indignation at someone who breaks traffic rules
• Anger at someone for their road rage
Therapy for road rage:
• Take a deep breath and just let it go!
Defensive Driving

23. Aggressive Driving
Overall, the number of drivers involved in an aggressive driving crash
declines as drivers reach 30 years of age
The age group with the highest number of aggressive driving crashes
was the 16-20 year old group.
Defensive Driving

24. Aggressive Drivers
What can you do?
• Avoid eye contact.
• Don’t cut in front of other drivers.
• Allow fellow drivers to merge safely.
• Don’t use hand gestures.
• Never tailgate!!!
• Use your horn sparingly.
• Give aggressive drivers plenty of space to move on.
Defensive Driving

25. Unsafe conditions
Poor visibility
• Night time driving
• Dust storms
• Rain storms
• Windshield wipers not effective
Defensive Driving

26. Unsafe conditions
Poor road conditions
• Slippery surfaces from weather
• Road not properly maintained
Defensive Driving

27. Unsafe conditions
Improper vehicle maintenance
• Inadequate brakes
• Worn tread on tires
• Hoses, belts
• Inadequate acceleration
• Headlight(s) out
Defensive Driving

28. Hydroplaning
• Tires begin to leave the road surface & ride on a film of water.
• Can happen at 30 mph.
• At 55 mph, the tires may be totally up on the water.
• A gust of wind, a change of road level, or a slight turn can
create a skid or slide.
• To avoid hydroplaning, you must slow down on wet roads.
Defensive Driving

29. Accident Procedures
• Never leave the scene of an accident.
• Report the accident to the police.
• Never admit fault. Provide factual information to the
emergency response personnel, i.e., Police and EMTs.
• Gather all the facts (date, time, witnesses, phone numbers,
etc.)
• Immediately report all accidents to your chain of command
and Safety Department.
Defensive Driving

30. Practice, practice, practice
• Start when you leave here today
• Check your long range scanning. Is it 10 seconds or
more?
• Check your following distance
• Make a conscience effect to constantly check you
mirrors
• Visually check your blind spots
• Some things you will automatically do well. Others you
will need to practice
• In one week you will notice a difference – In one month
you will wonder how you survived before
Defensive Driving

31. Driving Tips for All Vehicles
• Drive conservatively.
• Avoid excessive speed and abrupt maneuvers.
• Don’t drive tired.
• Don’t drive in bad weather, if possible.
• Take rest breaks often (every 2 hours is recommended)
• Wear seat belts at all times when the vehicle is in motion.
• Drive only during the day, if possible.
• Require someone to be awake in the front seat with the driver
on long trips.
Defensive Driving

32. Last Reminder
Defensive Driving