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Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving. Commercial Motor Vehicles. Session Objectives. You will be able to: Recognize driving hazards and dangerous conditions Avoid potential accidents Inspect and maintain your vehicle Operate your vehicle safely Respond to emergencies and accidents.

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Defensive Driving

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  1. Defensive Driving Commercial Motor Vehicles

  2. Session Objectives • You will be able to: • Recognize driving hazards and dangerous conditions • Avoid potential accidents • Inspect and maintain your vehicle • Operate your vehicle safely • Respond to emergencies and accidents

  3. Motor Vehicle Injury and Death Are Preventable • Around 5,000 CMV-related fatalities • More than 120,000 CMV-related injuries • More than 650 truck drivers died on the job • Truck drivers have more nonfatal injuries than workers in any other occupation

  4. Driving Hazards • Reckless driving • Distracted drivers • Road rage • Fatigue • Poor vehicle operating condition • Alcohol or drugs

  5. Dangerous Conditions • Bad weather conditions—rain, snow, ice, severe winds, and fog • Road conditions • Poor lighting or glaring sunlight

  6. Dangerous Conditions (cont.) • Heavy traffic • Busy intersections • Accidents • Shifting cargo

  7. Be a Defensive Driver • Recognize hazardous driving situations • Assume other drivers will make mistakes • Make adjustments if a hazard develops • Look ahead for approaching hazards • Watch vehicles to your side and rear • Scan the road before changing speed or direction • Always use your turn signals • Drive with your lights on

  8. Get Rest and Avoid Fatigue • Get some sleep • Take frequent breaks • Keep cab well ventilated • Adjust your vehicle’s environment

  9. Seat Belts Save Lives • More than 110,000 lives saved in 25 years • Prevent crashing into dashboard • Keep you inside vehicle • Strong bones take shock instead of delicate organs • Better chance of remaining conscious • Keep you behind wheel if you swerve or brake suddenly

  10. Drug Use • When on duty, never possess or use: • Opiates • Amphetamines • Narcotics • Alcohol • Any other substance that makes you an unsafe driver

  11. Driving Hazard Exercise Match the hazardous drivers to the correct potential hazards DRIVERS HAZARD • Reckless drivers • Distracted drivers • Aggressive drivers • Fatigued drivers • Create road rage situations • React slower • Tailgate • Unaware of surroundings

  12. Driving Hazards—Any Questions? • Any questions about driving hazards and dangerous conditions? • Any questions about avoiding potential accidents?

  13. Pre-Drive Inspection • Horn, lights, and turn signals • Clean windows, mirrors, and lights • Tire tread and air pressure • Leaks under vehicle • Brakes and steering

  14. Maintain Your Vehicle • Regular tune-ups • Oil changes • Antifreeze levels • Brakes • Battery • Compressed air system • Tire changes

  15. Cargo Securement • Cargo must be properly distributed and secured • Check within first 50 miles and make adjustments if necessary • Recheck if: • There is a change in duty status • The vehicle has been driven 3 hours or 150 miles

  16. Conduct Start-Up/Back-Up Check • Walk around your vehicle • Check blind areas on right and front • Adjust mirrors • After checking, move vehicle • Start up slowly • Tap horn or recruit signal person

  17. Fueling • While fueling a CMV, never: • Fuel a CMV with engine running • Smoke or expose any open flame • Fuel unless the nozzle and intake pipe are in contact

  18. Right-of-Way • Entering traffic, merging, turning left or right • Do not force other drivers to brake or steer • Assume other drivers will not see you • Move only after “right-of-way” has been given to you

  19. Using and Changing Lanes • Keep a safe following distance • Scan ahead • Flash brake lights • Scan blind spot before changing lanes • Clean and adjust mirrors

  20. Negotiating Curves • Understand how and why rollovers occur • Reduce speed before entering curve • Stay off the shoulder • Ensure cargo is secured • Top-heavy cargo more likely to roll over • Trailers roll first

  21. Negotiating Downgrades • Break system maintenance • Gear selection • Light brake pressure • Do not apply trailer brakes only • Check brake function before descending long, steep grades

  22. Crossing Intersections • Assume cross traffic may not obey control signs or signals • Allow enough time for your entire vehicle and trailer to clear the road • Approaching drivers may not realize you have a trailer attached • Keep side lights and reflectors clean

  23. Making Turns • Turns are more difficult due to vehicle size • Move to right lane and signal • Wait for vehicles in other lanes • Avoid improper tracking

  24. Crossing Railroad Tracks • Stop 15 to 50 feet of, and not closer than 15 feet to, the tracks • Stop and look both ways • Do not shift gears when crossing tracks

  25. Passing • Make sure no one is passing you • Signal intention to pass • Watch driver you are passing • Watch for vehicles entering road • Watch approaching traffic • Do not get into a race

  26. Pedestrians • Expect the unexpected • Pedestrians have difficulty judging vehicle speed • Pedestrians assume you see them • Make sure they give you right-of-way • Prevent improper trailer tracking • Scan blind spots

  27. Reduced Traction • Increase your following distance • Slow down • Apply brakes gently and steer smoothly • Brakes are more likely to lock up when lightly loaded • Slide sideways on banked curves

  28. Reduced Visibility • Slow down • Watch for stalled or slow-moving vehicles in front of you • Turn on fog lamps or emergency flashers • Keep lights and windshield clean • Get off the road and wait

  29. True or False? ý 1. Once cargo is properly distributed and secured, you should not check it because it may then become unsecured. ü Cargo must be checked within first 50 miles. ü • 2. Before startup or backup, you should walk around your vehicle to check for hazards.

  30. True or False? (cont.) ü 3. The most important rule in lane usage is to maintain a safe following distance. ý • 4. You should stop between 5 and 15 feet of railroad tracks. ü Stop 15 to 50 feet before tracks. ü • 5. The gear you use for descending a grade should be no higher than that required for ascending the same grade.

  31. Safe Driving Habits—Any Questions? • Any questions regarding inspections and basic maintenance of your vehicle? • Any questions regarding how to operate your vehicle safely?

  32. Carry Emergency Supplies • Tire jack and spare tire • Flares • Flashlight • First-aid and tool kits • Jumper cables • Spare lightbulbs • Spare hoses • Gloves • Pry bar • Fire extinguisher • Spare fuses

  33. Emergency Stopping • Turn on flashers and coast to shoulder • Set up emergency warning signals • Call for help • Use fire extinguisher when necessary • Replace fuses or bulbs

  34. Emergency Signals • Activate the vehicle’s flashers • Place warning device within 10 feet of vehicle toward approaching traffic • Place second device 100 feet away toward approaching traffic • Place third device 100 feet away • Never attach flares to your vehicle

  35. Safe Driving Conditions— Any Questions? • Are there any questions about how to respond to vehicle emergencies and accidents?

  36. Key Points • Inspect and maintain your vehicle • Know driving hazards and dangerous conditions • Become a proud defensive driver • Wear your seat belt • Follow safe driving practices in all driving conditions • Keep your lights on and use turn signals • Know how to respond to emergencies

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