Driver Safety 101

1. Driver Safety 101 By Richard Buttenshaw

2. What is the cost? • Workers Comp Vehicle Accident Losses: * data as of June Data not tracked prior to 2003

3. What is the cost? • Vehicle Property/Liability ClaimsLosses:

4. Things I will NOT be covering • How to drive: • Obey the speed limits • Check your mirrors • Signal before you turn I will assume that everyone driving your vehicles has passed the test ! ( See Vehicle Accident Review Guidelines handout )

5. Who should be driving? • Run Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs): • As part of the hiring process • At least every 3 years • insurance penalties if you don’t ! • Have a written policy • How to get MVRs: • Send in form to Driver License Division in Montgomery • $5.75 per person • Online service (www.alabama.gov) • $75 per year plus $5.75 per person ( See Performing MVRs handout )

6. What should you be driving? • Does the vehicle require a special license or training? • For example CDL • More than 26,000 pounds? • Can carry 16 people? • Emergency vehicles • EVOC training • What is a street legal vehicle ? • Golf carts - ATVs • Backhoes - Tractors

7. Any one can drive a van • A 15 passenger (plus the driver) vehicle requires a CDL. • 15-passenger vans should be operated by experienced drivers. • At least 25 years old with at least 3 years driving experience • A speed that may be acceptable in a passenger car could be dangerous in a van. • Avoid sharp and abrupt maneuvers. • You should fill the front seats first. • When the center of gravity shifts to the rear and upward increasing the likelihood of rollover as capacity increases. • 15-passenger vans should require seat belt use at all times. • A load placed on the roof will increase the likelihood of rolling over. ( See Vehicle Safety Training Checklist handout )

8. Vehicle Inspections • Improper vehicle maintenance • Inadequate brakes • Worn tread on tires • Hoses, belts • Inadequate acceleration • Headlight(s) out • Establish an inspection program • Before each use • Weekly and monthly • As per the manufacturer • Documentation ( See Vehicle Maintenance & Inspection handout )

9. Unsafe Conditions • Poor visibility • Night time driving (Fatality rates/mile are 4 times higher at night) • Rain storms • Windshield wipers not effective • Poor road conditions • Slippery surfaces from weather • Localized flooding

10. Who needs to wear a seat belt? • They help save lives - so everyone • It’s the law - so everyone • It’s city policy - so everyone ( See Seat Belt Safety handout ) Question: Why do we need a city policy if it’s the law ?

11. What did we do before cell phones? • Good communications is important • Cell phones • Two way radios • Push to talk phones • Hands free systems • Written policy ( See Cell Phone Use handout )

12. Other Distractions • Writing down a note • Train people to pull over before attempting to write. • Eating food • Have a city policy on not eating while driving. • Smoking • Have a city policy on not smoking in city vehicles. • Road rage • Just let it go! • Animals running out into the road • Skid car training!

13. I wonder how close can I get? • Is tailgating taught in drivers ed? • You can’t react as quickly as you think.

14. Parking and Backing Up • 30% of all accidents are backing and parking related (national statistics) • Front end clipping • Use your blinkers • Unfamiliarity with the vehicle • Different size • Different turning radius • Adjust the mirrors • In an ideal world • Avoid backing if possible • Back in / drive out • Use a spotter • Use reverse audible signal (or the horn)

15. Working at the side of the road • Require wearing reflective vests • Use flashing lights on the vehicle • On top • Built-in • Use cones • Use flagmen if necessary Remember – no precaution is too much

16. “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” • Federal Highway Administration • www.mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov • “Building Safer Highway Work Zones” CDC and NIOSH www.cdc.gov/niosh/2001128.html

17. Driver Training – The Skid Car • Our pro-active defensive driving program is headed up by Stanley Fant retired State Trooper • State of the art technology • Simulation of adverse driving conditions at high rates of speed yet performed safely at relatively low speeds • Prepares the student to drive equipping him/her to recognize and correct for an imminent skid or slide while maneuvering during emergency operations

18. Operation Lifesaver • Statistics: • In 2005 Alabama had 111 crossing collisions • 8th highest in the nation • In 2005 Alabama had 16 fatalities • 8th highest in the nation • Resource: • Operation Lifesaver Nancy Hudson 1400 Norfolk Southern Drive, RM #116Birmingham, AL  35210 Tel: 205-951-8013Fax: 205-951-6045 www.oli.org

19. Resources – our video library • “Winter Driving” – 5.046 • “Driving Safety” – 5.048 • “Driving Distractions” – 5.049 • “Backing and Parking” – 5.050 • “Trucks, Vans and Other Delivery Vehicles” – 5.051 • “Why Do We Drive the Way We Do” – 5.052 • “Barricade Safety 1” – 15.001 • “Barricade Safety 2” – 15.002 • “Flagging” – 15.003 • “Highway Work Zone Safety” – 15.005 • “City Driving” – 5.004 • “City Driving Tactics” – 5.005 • “Driving Defensively 1” – 5.011 • “Driving Defensively 2” – 5.012 • “Good Driving is an Attitude” – 5.016 • “Intersections” – 5.019 • “Night Driving Tactics” – 5.024 • “Pulling Trailers” – 5.031 • “Safe Driving” – 5.033 • “Traffic Safety” – 5.040 • “Utility Vans: Part 1” – 5.041 • “Utility Vans: Part 2” – 5.042 • “Vehicle Safety” – 5.043

20. Other Resources • “Sample Fleet Safety Manual” • See handout • “Sample Driving Policies” • City of Montgomery • City of Mobile • See handout

21. Our Websites • www.alalm.org • Alabama League of Municipalities • www.amicentral.org • Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp

22. The Bottom Line • From the Alabama Department of Public Safety 2005 Report: • Number of accidents = 143,948 • Number killed = 1,134 • Number injured = 44,155 In Alabama In 1 year

23. Questions? Thank You.