4. DRIVE TO STAY ALIVE
THE #1 LEADING CAUSE OF
“AT WORK” DEATHS IS
VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.
MOST OF US BEGAN DRIVING
WHEN WE WERE TEENAGERS
AND AFTER SO MANY YEARS,
TEND TO REINFORCE POOR
ROAD HABITS.
5. 25% of all driving accidents are the result of
excessive speed.
70% of driving accidents occur within 25 miles
from home.
1 out of 4 employees who drive experience an
accident while at work.
Most people know someone who has died in a
car accident.
6. 2001 data for the U.S.
37,409 deaths
2,070,000 injuries
115 deaths per day
Friday (especially evening/night hours) has more fatal
accidents than any other day
Midnight to 3 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays proved to be
the deadliest 3-hour periods throughout 1999, with 1,215 and
1,182 fatal crashes, respectively.
Michigan
– 1,382 Fatalities
– Isabella County (73)
7. Motor vehicle crashes cause a death every
12 minutes, a disabling injury every 14
seconds.
When do most accidents occur (type of
weather)?
Clear sunny days, good visibility
Seat belts are mandatory for all occupants
8. More than 600,000 people
ages 15 to 20 were injured in
traffic accidents last year.
9. 60 percent of crashes with deaths or injuries
happen on roads with posted speed limits of 40
miles per hour or less.
10. Motor vehicle crashes cost society more than
150.5 billion per year.
These were based on costs that arose from crashes
that killed 40,716 people and injured 5.2 million
others.
By comparison personal and household crimes
cost their victims $19 billion.
11. Driving injuries - on or off the job
The most hazardous environment
For most of us, whether on or off the job, it is on the road.
We face it daily.
A recent report from the road:
A manager was beginning a business trip
Was driving from his house to the airport on the freeway
Was shaving and looking into the rearview mirror
Saw (in peripheral vision) something cut in front of him
Reacted by steering to the right, driving off the freeway and
hitting a tree
Result was a broken hip
12. Shaving
Putting on make-up
Reading a map or book
Using the cell phone
Certain state(s) law
prohibits use
Not using a seatbelt
Driving under the
influence
Driving at an unsafe
speed
Failing to stop or yield
Unsafe passing of
another vehicle
Tailgating
Not using blinkers
Eating
Driver eats first
13. Poor visibility
Night time driving (Fatality
rates/mile are 4 times higher at
night.)
Dust storms
Rain storms
Snow
Fog
Windshield wipers not effective
Poor road conditions
Slippery surfaces from weather
Road not properly maintained
Improper vehicle
maintenance
Inadequate brakes
Worn tread on tires
Hoses, belts
Inadequate acceleration
Headlight(s) out
14. Driving under the influence (DUI)
Alcohol was involved in 41% of all traffic fatalities in
‘94
Sobering facts:
About 2 in every 5 Americans will be involved in an
alcohol-related traffic accident at some time in their lives
Remember the one-one rule: one drink per hour (Your
body takes about an hour to rid itself of each 1/2 ounce of
alcohol)
15. Daytime running lights
(Headlights that are on whenever
vehicle is running)
Lap/shoulder safety belts
Reduce risk of moderate-to-fatal
injuries by approximately 50%.
Air bags for driver & passenger
Combined with lap/shoulder belts,
they reduce risk of fatality by another
10%.
Side impact airbags
Anti-lock brakes
Safety cages built into the
vehicle framework
16. Did you know?
When driving on a road that is new to you:
Your eyes tend to scan the road from left to right which is an excellent
driving habit.
We tend not to scan when in familiar territory.
How closely can you safely follow another car?
We tend to follow based on how much of the road we can see
– A long hood causes us to follow at a greater distance (since you have to look over
the hood to see the street).
– Drivers with shorter hoods tend to follow more closely
Use the 2 or 4 second rule
– Good driving conditions, keep a 2 second distance behind
– Poor driving conditions, keep a 4 second distance behind
17. Slow Down
Avoid sharp turns.
Avoid excessive speed and abrupt maneuvers.
Don’t drive tired (6 hours max.).
Drive conservatively
Rest stops often (every 2 hrs. recommended)
Wear seat belts
Drive during the day, if possible.
Require someone to be awake in the front seat with the
driver on long trips
18. Road rage is driving under the influence of too much
anger.
Provoked by:
Feeling endangered by someone else’s driving (another
driver cuts you off or tailgates you).
Resentment at being forced to slow down
Righteous indignation at someone who breaks traffic rules
Anger at someone taking out their road rage on you
Therapy for road rage:
Take a deep breath and just let it go!
SRTCC
19. Defensive Driving Theories
Drive with courtesy
Be calm when driving
Concentrate when driving
Drive cautiously
20. Dealing With Aggressive Drivers
Avoid eye contact.
Don’t cut in front of other drivers.
Allow fellow drivers to merge
Don’t aggravate fellow drivers with hand
gestures.
Don’t tailgate.
Use your horn sparingly.
21. Backing The Vehicle
Use a spotter
Back to the left (driver’s side)
Avoid backing up if you miss a ramp/exit.
Use outside mirrors.
22. Highway Driving
Lane changes and signals.
Merges
Blind Spots
Slow moving vehicles
27. Lousy Weather, Rush Hour Traffic,
and construction zones are all
challenges that require good driving
skills. To help yourself stay SAFE,
always wear your safety belt, and
follow these next few tips!
28. Drive with courtesy
Be calm when driving
Concentrate when driving
Drive cautiously
Obey all traffic laws
Watch for road signs, workers, and detours.
Expect to encounter slow trucks and other construction
traffic.
29. From 6:00 a.m. to 9:00
a.m. drivers may be
sleepy or trying to make
up for lost time. Stay
aware and try to get an
early start.
From 4:00 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. drivers may be
thinking about getting
home and work stresses.
Don’t let the cars around
you control your driving.
RELAX and adjust to a
SAFE speed.
30. “Peephole” driving.
What’s the hurry? Leave early and
take it slow.
Reduce your speed, especially on
bridges, which may freeze before
the road does.
Avoid un-necessary stops. You
may loose momentum and/or
control.
Increase the distance between
you and the car in front of you by
at least 4 seconds to give yourself
adequate time to stop.
31. Speed
The chance of death or serious injury
doubles for every 10 miles per hour over 50
miles per hour that a vehicle travels.
One mile per hour is approximately 1.5 feet
per second. Therefore, a vehicle traveling
60 miles per hour is covering 90 feet per
second.
32. Drive with your headlights on !!
Although not the law, driving
with your low-beam headlights
on during daylight hours makes
you much more visible to other
drivers.
33. Safety Belts and restraints
In 1995, if every person in the front passenger seat
had buckled up, an additional 9835 deaths could have
been prevented.
34. Seat belt myths
How many of these myths have you heard ?
I don’t need a safety belt when I’m traveling
at low speeds or going on a short trip.
More than 80 percent of all motor
vehicle crashes occur at speeds less than
40 MPH and within 25 miles from home.
35. Seat belt myths
How many of these myths have you heard ?
I’m uncomfortable and too confined when I
wear a safety belt.
Safety belts are designed to allow you to
reach necessary driving controls. The
newer shoulder belt retractors give you
even more freedom.
36. Seat belt myths
How many of these myths have you heard ?
I might be saved if I’m thrown clear of a car
in a crash.
The fact is that your chances of
being killed are FOUR times greater
if you’re thrown from a car.
38. Caravans
Be mindful of your distance between vehicles
Both vehicles should know where they are going
2-way radio for all vehicles and cellular phone for
leader on multi-vehicle trips.
Obey all laws, signs and speed limits.
39. A speed that may be acceptable in a passenger car
could be dangerous in a van.
You should fill the front seats first. The center of gravity
shifts to the rear and upward increasing the likelihood of
rollover as capacity increases.
Soft shoulders and culverts pose a hazard in rural
areas.
The shift in the center of gravity will also increase the
potential for loss of control in panic maneuvers.
40. Vans have an increased rollover risk under
certain conditions
The risk of rollover increases dramatically as the
number of occupants increases from fewer than
five occupants to over ten passengers.
Vans (with 10 or more occupants) had a rollover
rate in single vehicle crashes that is nearly 3 x
the rate of those that were lightly loaded.
41. Loading vans causes the center of gravity to shift
rearward and upward increasing the likelihood of
rollover. Shift in the center of gravity will also increase
the potential for loss of control in panic maneuvers.
It is important that the van be operated by experienced
drivers. They should understand and be familiar with
the handling principles of their vans, especially when
fully loaded.
42. Any load placed on the roof will be above the
center of gravity of the vehicle and will increase
the likelihood of rolling over.
43. Relax
Never leave the scene of an accident.
Take a photo or two of the accident with site camera.
Report the accident to the police.
Never admit fault.
Gather all the facts (date, time, witnesses, phone
numbers, etc.)
Immediately report all accidents to your advisor Shawna
Ross.
44. Final Thought…
Responsibility to others in your vehicle
– Their loved ones
Responsibility to yourself
– Your loves ones
Responsibility to the General Public
45. Drive safely to ensure
your family,friends and
yourself that you’ll
return home safely.
'Tis the Season -
But Please
Remember:
Friends Don’t let
friends drink and
drive!
