- Bureau of Workers’ Comp
- PA Training for Health & Safety
- (PATHS)
Safe Driving - In 2009, 33,808 people died and 2.22 million were injured in motor vehicle crashes in the United States. *
- Inadequate driving skills pose a great danger, as does distracted driving.
- It can be difficult to unlearn bad habits, but following a few driving rules can save your life and the lives of others.
- * Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Setting Up - Adjust your seat so your arms are slightly bent at the elbows when gripping the wheel.
- Keep your hands at the ten o’clock and two o’clock or nine o’clock and three o’clock positions on the steering wheel.
- Hold the wheel tightly enough so your palms do not slip off.
- Adjust side mirrors so you can either see the door handles or angled away to cover blind spots.
Adjusting Side Mirrors for Blind Spots - Park car and have someone walk in both left and right blind spots.
- Set mirrors so person is in view.
- Check mirrors to see which areas remain invisible.
- Re-adjust and check again.
Safe Driving Tips - Merging - • Merging requires attention to many different factors.
- • Traffic moving at posted speeds = use the acceleration lane to speed up and match traffic flow.
- • Use your signal and look for an opening where you can smoothly ease into traffic.
- If traffic is congested and moving slowly, proceed down the ramp slowly and look for an opening.
- Try to avoid stopping at the bottom of the ramp because it can disrupt traffic flow.
Safe Driving Tips - Intersections - Do not closely follow a large vehicle through an intersection with stoplights. You can’t see if the light has changed.
- Leave enough space so you have a clear view of everything before proceeding.
- When making a left turn, slow down and yield if there is not a green arrow giving you the right-of-way.
- Don’t turn your wheels until you’re ready to move (if your vehicle is hit from behind, you could be pushed into oncoming traffic).
Safe Driving Tips - Four-Way Stop - First car to arrive at an intersection with a four-way stop (whether sign or traffic light) should be first to go.
- When it's unclear which vehicle arrived first, general rule is driver to the right has the right-of-way.
- Don’t count on other drivers; proceed with caution.
Vehicle Maintenance - Neglecting maintenance can cause crashes.
- Monitor condition of and air pressure in your tires. Not doing so could cause blowout or a flat.
- Change wiper blades regularly.
- Check your owner's manual for a maintenance schedule, and stick to it.
Vehicle Maintenance - Tires - Check tire pressure regularly, including the spare (at least once a month).
- Inspect tires for:
- Uneven wear patterns
- Cracks
- Foreign objects
- Other signs of wear
- • Ensure tire valves have valve caps.
Vehicle Maintenance - Tires - Check tire pressure before a long trip.
- Do not overload vehicle – check tire info placard for maximum recommended load.
- If towing a trailer, remember that some weight of loaded trailer is transferred to vehicle.
- Try not to strike curb when parking.
Flat Tire/Blowout - Highway - At the first sign of trouble:
- Firmly grip the steering wheel
- Do not slam on brakes
- Take foot off the gas pedal
- Work vehicle toward the shoulder or exit
- If changing lanes, use turn signals
- Steer as vehicle slows down
Flat Tire/Blowout - Highway - Once off road, place reflective triangles
- Keep emergency flashers on
- Change tire, if you know how
- Keep away from traffic
- Call for professional help, if necessary
- Do not stand behind or next to vehicle
Safe Driving Skills - Keep your eyes constantly moving: - Look up and down the road - Look to the sides of the road - Look into the rear view mirror
- Always leave yourself an out: - Try to find a place to head if a crash occurs - Think about other drivers’ blind spots
- Don’t linger while passing.
- Don’t follow too closely (“tailgate”).
- Avoid “packs” of vehicles.
Safe Driving Skills - Ensure other drivers see you – keep headlights on both day and night.
- Always use turn signals well ahead of time.
- Never assume what other drivers will do.
- Maintain an average speed on highways; going too fast or too slow creates a hazard.
Safe Driving Skills - Use average traffic speed when merging.
- Think ahead – avoid making sudden movements when exiting highways.
- Obey all traffic signs and signals.
- Keep your eyes on the road, not on a cell phone or music device.
- Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.
- Scan the road ahead for animals.
Safe Driving Skills - Stopping on Highways:
- Don’t be a stationary object or semi-stationary obstacle.
- Stopping at the end of an entrance ramp is dangerous; learn to time a safe merge.
- Avoid stopping on the shoulder of road; exit highway before stopping, if possible.
Safe Driving Tips - Sleepiness - Driving sleepy is driving impaired!
- Reaction time and vision deteriorate when you are tired.
- Pull over, take a short “cat nap” or just close your eyes for a while.
- Sometimes taking a short walk will work.
- Stop every two to three hours if driving long distances.
Safe Driving Tips - Familiarization -
- Be familiar with your vehicle:
- Know what every button, switch and lever does.
- Know where the oil, brake fluid, engine coolant and window washer reservoirs are.
- Know how to fill those reservoirs.
- Know what every indicator light means.
- Know how to operate basic items, such as the defroster, wipers, radio and headlights.
- Traffic deaths are three times greater at night than during the day (Source: National Safety Council).
- Prepare car for nighttime driving: clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (at least weekly).
- Have vehicle headlights properly aimed.
- Don’t drink and drive!
- Reduce speed and increase following distances.
- Don’t overdrive headlights – should be able to stop inside illuminated area.
Safe Driving Tips – Nighttime Driving - When following a vehicle, keep your headlights on low beam.
- If oncoming vehicle doesn’t turn high beams down, look to the right side of road.
- If tired, stop and rest.
- If you have car problems, pull to the side of the road and place reflective devices; turn on emergency flashers.
Safe Driving Tips - Seasonal Changes - Winter driving = slippery roads, visibility issues, cold, etc.
- Spring = rain can cause slippery roads.
- Summer = high temperatures can cause vehicle problems; there’s more traffic on roads.
- Fall = wet leaves on road can make it slippery.
- Daylight saving’s time = sun's position in sky changes causing darkness and glare.
Safe Driving Tips - Rain - Drive slowly and carefully – especially on curves.
- Steer and brake with a light touch.
- When slowing/stopping, do not brake hard or lock the wheels – could cause skidding.
- Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
- Adjust your speed to the wet road conditions.
Safe Driving Tips - Skids - Remain calm.
- Ease your foot off the gas.
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go (“steering into the skid”).
- If vehicle has ABS (anti-lock brakes), avoid slamming on the brakes, brake firmly while steering into skid.
- Occurs when water in front of tires builds up faster than vehicle’s weight can push it out of the way.
- Water pressure causes vehicle to rise up and slide on thin layer of water between tires and road.
- Can cause skidding, drifting out of lane, leaving roadway.
- To avoid: keep tires properly inflated, maintain good tread, slow down, avoid puddles.
Safe Driving Tips - Hydroplaning - If hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly.
- Ease foot off gas until vehicle slows down and you can feel the road again.
- If you need to brake, do so gently, with light pumping actions.
- If vehicle has anti-lock brakes, brake normally.
Safe Driving Tips - Winter - Ensure vehicle wiper blades are in good condition and washer fluid is filled.
- Ensure vehicle battery is in good condition and appropriately charged.
- Clear snow/ice from all windows, lights, hood, trunk and top of vehicle before driving.
- Adjust your speed accordingly.
- Check tire pressure regularly.
- Dress warmly with layered clothing that is loose-fitting and lightweight.
Safe Driving Tips - Winter - If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:
- Stay in vehicle.
- Display trouble sign (ex: brightly-colored
- cloth on antenna).
- Occasionally run engine with heater on to
- keep warm.
- Keep exhaust pipe free of snow and open a
- window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Safe Driving Tips - Winter - If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:
- Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.
- Clap hands and move arms and legs frequently.
- Try not to stay in one position for too long.
- Use newspapers, maps, mats, etc., for warmth.
- Avoid drinking fluids containing caffeine or alcohol:
- can quicken effects of cold.
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Safe Driving Tips - Winter - Stopping Distances and Wet/Snowpack/Icy Roads:
- Vehicle may travel 4x the stopping distance than on dry road.
- Dry pavement vehicle traveling 70 mph requires 600 feet to stop; wet road requires 800 feet.
- Snowpacked road requires approximately 1300 feet stopping distance @ 70 mph.
- Icy road requires 2,500 feet @ 70 mph.
Safe Driving Tips - Winter - Winterizing Vehicles:
- • Ensure ice scraper and windshield de-icer are on board.
- • Carry spare set of wiper blades.
- • Carry kitty litter, oil dry or sand for traction.
- • Carry blankets, flashlight, road flares.
- • Have lock de-icer available.
Safe Driving Tips – Vehicle Fires - Get yourself and all others out of and away from the vehicle.
- Move a safe distance from the vehicle and call fire department.
- Do not stand near vehicle bumpers.
- Remain away from vehicle; do not attempt to get back into burning vehicle.
- If trained, are comfortable and fire is small, use appropriate fire extinguisher.
- If you suspect fire under hood or in trunk, do not open.
- Always use seatbelts!
- When backing up, use caution: if you have passenger, ask them to get out and direct; if not, get out and check area before backing.
- If vehicle is not operating properly, report and discontinue use.
- Shut off motor and do not smoke or use cell phone while refueling.
- Do not leave engine running in an unattended vehicle.
- Report all work accidents, no matter how minor, to your supervisor.
Vehicle Safety - General - Inspect vehicle before driving:
- Ensure the horn, lights and turn signals work.
- Ensure tires are in good condition.
- Ensure brakes are working (test upon moving).
- Ensure emergency brake works.
- Check gauges after starting (e.g., fuel, battery, temperature, etc.) to ensure they’re working.
Vehicle Safety - General - Distracted Driving:
- Nearly 6,000 people killed and 500,000 injured as a result of distracted driving (2008; USDOT).
- Distracted driving is a factor in more than 20 percent of crashes.
- Drivers on cell phones fail to see up to half of information in driving environment.
- Do not text while driving – pull over!
- Pull over to talk on phone – even using a “hands free” device is distracting.
Preventing Road Rage - Don’t offend, don’t engage.
- Adjust your attitude (stay calm).
- Avoid cutting people off.
- Don’t tailgate or follow closely.
- Don’t make obscene/questionable gestures.
- Avoid eye contact.
- Don’t start a fight – give angry drivers lots of room.
Summary - Operating a motor vehicle is dangerous, but it can also be a pleasant experience.
- Use common sense, obey speed limits, drive defensively and observe “road safety rules.”
- Distracted driving can be just as dangerous as alcohol-impaired driving.
- Be careful, alert, courteous and safe.
- Have a safe trip!
Safe Driving Quiz - http://www.drivesafepa.org/Safe-Driver-Quiz/
Questions
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