Driver Safety Driver Preparedness Introduction How to Use

Driver Safety: Driver Preparedness

Introduction How to Use this Presentation This presentation contains base material for use in an instructor-led training setting. You may modify this presentation to satisfy the specific training needs of your organization. On some slides, the display text is supplemented with additional material in the slide notes. This content is licensed for modification and use in a classroom setting. You may not redistribute this material in any form. DISCLAIMER This training material presents very important, pertinent information. It should not be assumed, however, that this program satisfies every legal requirement of every state. Some states require the training be developed and delivered by an individual with specific training and experience. This training is AWARENESS LEVEL and does not authorize any person to perform work or validate their level of competency; it must be supplemented with operation and processspecific assessments and training, as well as management oversight, to assure that all training is understood and followed. Your organization must do an evaluation of all exposures and applicable codes and regulations. In addition, establish proper controls, training, and protective measures to effectively control exposures and assure compliance. This program is neither a determination that the conditions and practices of your organization are safe, nor a warranty that reliance upon this program will prevent accidents and losses or satisfy local, state, or federal regulations.

Driver Safety: Driver Preparedness 1. Know Your Vehicle 2. Safety Systems and Gear 3. Emergency Preparedness

Introduction With incidents ranging in severity from flat tires or running out of gas to sudden illnesses and major accidents, all drivers are likely to experience some sort of emergency at some point. You can minimize the chances of certain incidents by keeping your vehicle properly maintained. However, there are times when an emergency is unexpected or unavoidable. This course will help you to prepare you and your vehicle to safely manage any situations that might arise. The following slides contain: • A list of vehicle components to check for proper condition or maintenance • An overview of your vehicle’s safety systems • A guide for emergency preparedness

Part 1 Know Your Vehicle Knowing your vehicle’s current condition is vital to assuring its safe use on the road. What you need to know: • The elements of a once-over inspection • The elements of a regular maintenance inspection • How to assess your blind spots • The importance of assessing your full vehicle dimensions

Know Your Vehicle Your Responsibilities It is your responsibility to: • Drive your vehicle properly. • Perform regular inspections. • Follow your preventive maintenance procedures. • Report problems with your vehicle, and assure that they are corrected. • Never drive a vehicle that is unsafe.

Know Your Vehicle Conduct a Once-Over Inspection Before Driving This inspection checks for conditions that could lead to a breakdown or collision. Brakes Head and tail lights Tire Wear

Know Your Vehicle Check the following: Windshield and wipers Conduct Regular Maintenance Inspections Lights and signals Leaks

Know Your Vehicle Conduct Regular Maintenance Inspections You are responsible for checking the following: Gauges Fluid levels Emergency brake

Know Your Vehicle Check Your Tires Regularly Maintenance Tire pressure Signs of damage or wear

Know Your Vehicle Know Your Blind Spots Pre-driving Practices As speed increases, so does the size of your blind spots.

Know Your Vehicle Adjust Side Mirrors to Reduce Blind Spots • Have someone walk in both left and right blind spots. • Set mirrors. • Check mirrors. • Re-adjust and check again.

Know Your Vehicle Know the Height of Your Vehicle The clearance you need changes with different loads in your vehicle. Do not forget about any objects that are stored in a rack on the top or may protrude from your vehicle. If you are not certain whether your vehicle has enough clearance to pass under an object, do not attempt the pass until you have confirmed that it is safe.

Know Your Vehicle Know the Width of Your Vehicle Do not forget to check the width of your vehicle, and assure that you have adequate side clearance. 8’ 6’ 2’

Part 2 Safety Systems and Gear While the number of serious injuries and deaths associated with vehicle crashes are still significant, improvements in safety systems are saving more lives each day. What you need to know: • Proper use of seat belts • Airbag functionality and safety practices

Safety Systems and Gear Seat Belts Protective Controls Seat belts: • Increase chances of survival. • Protect users from being thrown about the passenger compartment or ejected from the vehicle. • Keep the driver in position to attempt to regain control of the vehicle. Shoulder harnesses reduce the severity of injury by reducing the force absorbed by the head or chest. Lap belts allow the hips to absorb much of the force of the collision. Lap belts and shoulder harnesses must be used together.

Safety Systems and Gear Seat Belts Protective Controls While seat belts are widely used, some people may still offer excuses: In a crash at 30 MPH, a person weighing 165 lbs. bracing themselves is equivalent to pushing 3 tons of cement. Only. 5% of all vehicle crashes involve fire or submersion. Passengers are 25 times more likely to be ejected from the vehicle if they do not wear safety belts.

Safety Systems and Gear Airbag Safety Protective Controls Airbags: • Inflate in about 1/25 of a second following a crash. • Do not require maintenance, but must be replaced upon deployment. • Provide superior protection for front and side crashes (when side or curtain airbags are installed in the vehicle), but are intended as a supplement to seat belt use. More than half of all fatalities occur to front seat passengers.

Safety Systems and Gear Airbag Safety Pre-driving Practices Adjust your seat to accommodate airbags: • Avoid the risk zone (the first 2 – 3 inches of inflation where the force is greatest). – • Leave at least 10 inches of clearance between the steering wheel and your breastbone. Know any restrictions for children. – Make sure they meet height and weight requirements to sit in the front seat. • Grip the wheel at four and eight o’clock to assure your hands are protected under the airbag. • Check your owner’s manual for more information on airbag positioning or other requirements. All vehicles produced for sale in the United States after September 1998 have been required to contain front airbags for the driver and passenger, though many newer models include multiple airbags located throughout the entire vehicle compartment.

Part 3 Emergency Preparedness Being prepared for anything can keep minor incidents from becoming more serious. What you need to know: • Emergency items • What to do in the event of an emergency • Special considerations for cold climates

Emergency Preparedness Emergency Items In the event of an emergency, you may need to rely on what you have in your vehicle for survival. A well-prepared vehicle should contain the following items: Spare Tire and Jack Water Jumper Cables Flashlight Matches Vest

Emergency Preparedness Emergency Items should also include the following: Flares or Emergency Signals Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Phone

Emergency Preparedness Reacting to an Emergency Most roadside emergencies occur with little warning. Keeping calm and knowing how to react is critical to assuring the safety of everyone in the vehicle, as well as in surrounding traffic. When the emergency occurs: • Do not slam on the brakes. • Maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel. • Take your foot off the gas pedal. • Move the vehicle towards the shoulder or exit. • Use turn signals.

Emergency Preparedness Reacting to an Emergency Once your vehicle is safely to the side of the road: • Keep away from traffic. • Stay visible. Use hazard lights and emergency signals (e. g. , reflective triangles or flares) as necessary, and wear a reflective vest. • Stay with the vehicle. • Only go outside if you can address the issue yourself (e. g. , changing a flat tire or adding coolant). • Call for roadside assistance if necessary. • Do not stand directly in front or behind the vehicle.

Emergency Preparedness Preparing for Winter and Cold Weather Drivers in cold weather must take extra precautions. • Check the condition of your tires, battery, and wiper blades. • Assure that fluids, such as antifreeze and washer fluid, are at appropriate levels. • Clear snow or ice from the vehicle before driving. • Dress in layers of warm, lightweight clothing. • Stock the vehicle with tire chains, blankets, and nutritious canned or dried food.

Emergency Preparedness Stranded in the Cold If you are stranded in the cold: • Do not leave the vehicle. • Alert others to your situation. ‒ Bright or reflective material ‒ Hazard lights • Occasionally run the engine and heater. • Keep the exhaust pipe free of snow. • Keep moving. ‒ Minor exercises ‒ Move arms and legs • Do not consume caffeine or alcohol. • Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Summary • Perform a “once-over” inspection of your vehicle before driving, and regularly inspect for any maintenance issues. • Keep your vehicle stocked with emergency items such as a spare tire, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher. • Always be aware of your vehicle’s dimensions, and take into consideration any objects that may be mounted to its roof or sides. • • Always wear your seatbelt. Should an emergency occur, calmly move your vehicle to the side of the road and stay with the vehicle until help arrives or the emergency is over. • Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s airbag system. • Make sure your vehicle is prepared if traveling in cold weather.