Transcript Defensive Driving For Non
Defensive Driving For Non-Emergency Drivers
Non- Emergency
Vehicle Operation
Non- Sworn personnel are not authorized to operate agency vehicles in emergency mode (lights and siren). Vehicles must be operated in accordance with all traffic laws .
Non- Emergency
Vehicle Operation
DEFENSIVE
driving is…
making a habit of driving to prevent collisions and violations. You are creating a safe driving space. You are defending yourself even if the conditions are poor or other drivers are acting unsafely.
DEFENSIVE
driving is…
…driving to
SAVE LIVES
,
TIME
and
MONEY
in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of
others
.
Characteristics of a Defensive Driver
Knowledge
of laws and safe driving strategies
Alertness
to focus attention on driving and the changing conditions
Foresight
to recognize hazards in advance and know what might happen
Judgment
to decide the safest action
Skill
to carry out the action
Characteristics of a Defensive Driver KNOWLEDGE SKILL ALERTNESS JUDGEMENT FORESIGHT
Q: How do we prevent collisions?
A: Collisions are prevented by the driver(s) doing everything reasonable to avoid them.
Safety Facts
In the last 40 years the number of drivers increased by 64% while the roadway system increased by only 6%.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association
Road Signs
Road Sign Shapes
Round-
Railroad advance warning
Diamond
- Existing or possible hazards ahead
Triangle
- Yield
Crossbuck
- Railroad crossing
Pentagon
– School advance and school crossing
Vertical Rectangle
- Generally regulatory
Pennant
- Advance warning of no passing zones
Octagon
- Stop
Horizontal Rectangle
- Generally for guide signs
Traffic signs Standard Colors
• • • • • • • •
GREEN
– Guide, directional information
RED
– Stop, do not enter or wrong way
BLUE
– Motorist services guide
ORANGE
– Construction/maintenance warning
BROWN
- Public recreation/scenic
YELLOW
– General warning
WHITE
- Regulatory
BLACK
- Regulatory
Crash Statistics
90%
of all crashes are the result of
DRIVER ERROR
Drivers have a 1 in 3 chance
(33%)
of being involved in a fatal crash.
What affects our ability behind the wheel?
Age
Injury/illness
Lights
Fatigue
Glare
Stress
Vision
Medication
Eye wear
Passengers
Dirty windows
Cellular phones
Driver Safety Equipment
Seatbelt
use is
mandatory
as outlined in Florida state statute and Sheriff’s office policy Failure to use a seatbelt could result in disciplinary action and or loss of benefits if involved in an accident.
Safety Belts…
PROTECT
They
protect absorbing
th
e
you by force of a crash.
CONTROL
They help you stay in control of your vehicle by
keeping you
in your seat.
SURVIVE
They increase your chance of
surviving
a crash by more than 50%.
What are the consequences or results of speeding?
Increased gas consumption.
Longer stopping distance.
Violation of traffic laws.
Increased chance of injury or fatality.
Decreased peripheral scanning ability.
Speed affects your field of vision. The faster you are traveling the narrower your visual field. This reduces your ability to recognize hazards outside of that narrow line of vision.
Driving at unsafe speeds is hazardous to you and other drivers on the road. Safe driving is as simple as making a
decision
to do so.
Speeding or driving at an unsafe speed costs drivers $41 Billion Annually
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association
Driving Too Fast
SPEED
: Is the #1 cause of crashes in the USA.
CARELESS DRIVING
: Is #2
Vehicle control, stability and maneuverability are all affected by how fast we drive
Driving Too Fast
The risk of being killed in a collision increases with speed. Speed kills. The greater the speed, the greater your risk of serious injury or death. There is 4 times more energy in a crash at 60 MPH than at 30 MPH.
Speeding is a contributing factor in fatal crashes that kill approximately 13 of 500 people every year.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association
Vehicle Control
•Proper steering will control weight shift and provide effective maneuvering •Shuffle steering helps maintain control and provides smooth steering.
•Hand position is at the 10 and 2 o’clock or the 9 and 3 o’clock position on the steering wheel.
Passing Passing is one of the most dangerous things we do!
Passing
Passing is one of the most dangerous things we do!
One of the most common causes of deadly head-on collisions is improper passing. Before undertaking any pass, ask yourself,
“Will it make any difference?” “Is it safe?” “Is it legal?” “Do I really need to get ahead?”
When getting ready to pass another vehicle, maintain a safe following distance. Before passing, signal left. Scan the road ahead and behind continually.
NO PASSING ZONE When NOT to Pass
Where you see a “
DO NOT PASS ZONE”
” or
“NO PASSING
sign
When NOT to Pass
Where a
solid yellow line
is painted on your side of the center line.
When NOT to Pass
On
hills
or
curves
When NOT to Pass
At or within 100 feet of
intersections
When NOT to Pass
Within
100 feet
of a bridge, viaduct, tunnel or railroad crossing
How to Recognize Potential Hazards
Scan the road ahead, behind, and next to your vehicle.
Check rear-view and side-view mirrors every 3 to 5 seconds.
How to Recognize Potential Hazards
Many collisions may have been and could be prevented if drivers recognize hazards in advance and focus their attention on driving.
Proper Mirror Adjustment
Mirrors should be adjusted, so that you can not see the sides of your own vehicle
Collision Avoidance
1.
It is better to swerve right instead of toward oncoming traffic to prevent a crash.
Collision Preparedness
2.
Hitting a row of bushes is better than a tree, post or solid object.
Collision Preparedness
3.
Hitting a vehicle moving in the same direction is better than hitting one head-on.
Collision Preparedness
4.
Driving off the road is better than skidding off the road when trying to avoid a crash.
Collision Preparedness
5.
It is better to hit something that is not moving instead of a vehicle moving toward you.
Aggressive Driving
Safety Facts
Aggressive driving causes 6.8 million crashes based on estimates.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Association
Road Rage
Increasingly crowded highways and traffic backups cause many drivers to lose control and become extremely aggressive.
If you encounter aggressive drivers, don’t challenge them, and stay as far away as possible.
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you speed up to close the gap with the car ahead of you to prevent drivers from entering your lane?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you switch lanes to whichever seems to be moving faster?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you try to get ahead of other drivers, even when you are not in a particular hurry?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you pass as many vehicles as possible before the road closes to one lane?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you break suddenly when being tailgated?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you curse and make negative gestures towards other drivers?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you tailgate drivers who you think are driving too slow?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you block vehicles that are trying to pass illegally?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you typically speed up before an intersection to avoid a yellow light?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Are You An Aggressive Driver?
Do you get overly upset or angry in heavy traffic or in traffic jams?
YES? NO? MAYBE?
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
How Close is Too Close?
2 to 3
sec. following distance is generally recommended for driving in town. The higher the speed the greater the following distance.
3 to 6
sec. minimum following distance is recommended on our county highways.
How Close is Too Close?
Your safe following distance depends on how fast you are going and what the road conditions are. The two second rule is a convenient way to figure your safe driving distance at various speeds without having to do calculations with numbers.
Just remember, the higher the speed the greater the following distance!
Measure your following distance by choosing a landmark such as a tree. When the rear bumper of the vehicle in front of you passes, start counting seconds: “one thousand and one, one thousand and two”. If you reach the landmark before you finish counting, you are following too closely.
Take Your Keys With You
Florida Law prohibits drivers leaving a vehicle parked and unattended while the engine is running.
FSS 316.1975 Unattended motor vehicle
No matter how long you expect to be away from your vehicle, Florida Law requires all drivers to stop the engine, lock the ignition, and remove the key before exiting. This includes “just for a minute” runs inside any place you can think of! (post office, convenient stores, etc)
Defensive Driving Tips That You Can Use
Use time management when driving Monitor your speed regularly Be careful and stay alert Lower your speed when entering work zones and school zones.
Defensive Driving Tips That You Can Use
Let tailgaters pass —don’t increase your speed.
Use your turn signals.
Florida law requires you turn headlights on when driving in rain, fog or smoke or other low visibility situations.