Defensive Driving

Defensive Driving Management

The defensive driver tries to recognize potentially hazardous situations sufficiently in advance to allow time to safely maneuver past them. The defensive driver assumes that other drivers may make mistakes and is on guard in the event an error is made. The defensive driver searches ahead of what is immediately in front, to have advance warning of approaching hazards.

Management:

1. Do you periodically have a qualified person ride along with the drivers to evaluate their defensive driving habits ?

2. Do the drivers understand how they should be driving to be defensive drivers ?

3. Do divers recognize that common situations such as crossing intersections, entering expressways and stopping can be hazardous ?

4. What does the company do to encourage defensive driving ?

5. Have the drivers been trained in regard to defensive driving ?

6. Are the drivers aware of the concept of "preventable accident" ?

7. Does the company have an accident review program for classifying preventable and non-preventable accidents ?

8. Has the company defined a standard for judging safe driving performance for its drivers ?

Drivers:

• Learn to recognize driving situations that can be hazardous.

• Assume other drivers will make errors.

• Adjust speed, position, direction and attention to be able to maneuver safely if a hazard develops.

• Scan far enough ahead to be able to react safely to approaching situations.

• Scan frequently to the side and rear for passing or approaching vehicles.

• Scan thoroughly before changing speed or direction.

Defensive drivers are more than just attentive and cautious.

Defensive Drivers manage the drive space to ensure they have room to make changes in maneuvering and to react to changes in traffic around them.  The look well ahead and behind them and plan lane changes and turns well in advance.

Defensive driver use a 2 to 3 second rule in following distance to ensure they have adequate time to react to changes in traffic ahead.  If traveling at speeds of 50 miles-per-hour, use a four second gap to provide enough stopping room.

Defensive Driver ensure they have adequate visual lead time of tem to twelve seconds to ensure timely identification of potential hazards ahead.  Continuous visual scanning of the traffic situation ahead will prevent accidents

Defensive Driving Procedures

 Intersections.  Getting into and out of intersections without an accident is a mark of a good defensive driver. Besides your own skill level, intersections also demand anticipation of the actions of other drivers and taking appropriate evasive action as required.

 Backing.  Backing is an extremely hazardous maneuver. If you are backing with the assistance of a guide, the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the backing maneuver remains with you as the driver.

 Front-End Collisions.   The primary way to avoid front-end collisions is by maintaining a safe and adequate following distance. You should be prepared for possible obstructions on the roadway, either in plain sight or hidden by curves or the crests of hills. A special situation occurs at night, when speed should be kept to a level that will allow you to stop within the distance illuminated by the headlights of your vehicle.

 Rear-End Collisions.  As a driver, you risk being struck from behind if you do not maintain an adequate margin of safety in your own following distance. If enough space is not allowed in front of your vehicle, chances go way up that somebody can (and will) impact you from the rear.

Passing.  Failure to pass safely indicates faulty judgment on your part as a defensive driver, and failure to consider one or more of the factors that need to be checked: 

          •    Is there enough room ahead?

          •    Is there adequate space to move back into your lane of traffic after passing?

          •    Have you signaled your intentions?

Being Passed.   As a driver, you must be aware of the actions of other drivers, and give way if another driver begins to sideswipe you or to cut you off. A good defensive driver will avoid problems with this kind of accident situation.

Encroaching on Other Traffic Lanes.   Observant defensive drivers will not usually get trapped when other drivers change lanes abruptly. In the same manner, entrapment in merging traffic can be successfully avoided by a good defensive driver with a little preplanning and willingness to yield. Blind spots are not valid excuses for this kind of accident – allowances must be made in areas of limited sight distance.

Railroad Grade Crossings.  Driving across railroad crossings, or in areas where there are rail vehicles of some sort, demands special care.  Careful observance of the traffic situation is your best defense.

Oncoming Traffic.  A defensive driver will avoid a collision with an oncoming vehicle at all costs. Even if the vehicle enters your lane of traffic, an accident can be avoided with some evasive maneuvers.

Turning.  Turning, like passing, is a dangerous maneuver, and demands special care and an observant eye from you as a defensive driver. You should be aware of other vehicles in your path, and of the complete configuration of the turn you are about to undertake.

Pedestrians.   As a sensible defensive driver, always assume that if there is a pedestrian (or small vehicle of some sort) involved in a situation, slowing down is your best defense. Be certain to give people and small vehicles the benefit of the doubt.

Extreme Weather and Road Conditions.  Bad weather and other road hazards place special stress upon any defensive driver. The best rule in any kind of bad weather or extreme road condition is get off the road safely and as soon as possible. If you absolutely must continue, slowing way down and increasing following distance are your best defenses, along with increased awareness.

Fog.   Fog reduces available visibility and impairs distance perception, making it perhaps the most dangerous type of extreme weather condition.  Whenever possible, drivers are to avoid driving in extremely foggy conditions. Pull off the road and park safely until such time as the fog dissipates or is burned off, if at all possible.

Rain.    Rain causes roadways to become slippery, especially when it first begins. Roadways become covered with a thin layer of oil and other residues. When rain mixes with this layer, it results in an extremely slippery and dangerous road surface. This condition remains until additional rain can break down and wash away the oily mixture from the pavement. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of the rain.

Night Driving.  All drivers need to be aware of the potential hazards driving at night present. These hazards include fatigue, reduced visibility, poor lighting, other (impaired) motorists, and animals on the road. Fatigue is perhaps the most dangerous hazard of driving at night. Nothing we do is worth any one getting hurt.  Fatigue usually sets in at night, but a tired driver, at any time of day, is an unsafe driver. Fatigue reduces drivers' reaction time and perception.

Underpasses.  Hitting a bridge, underpass, or viaduct is a danger you should be constantly aware of. This type of accident, often referred to as "topping" a trailer, is always preventable. Drivers need to be aware that the posted height of an underpass is not always accurate. Re-paving and packed snow can reduce the clearance of an overpass enough to cause a problem. In addition, an empty trailer will ride higher than when it is loaded. You should make thorough trip plans. When in doubt of the clearance of an underpass, you should get out of your vehicle and make a visual inspection or find an alternate route.

Fixed Objects and Special Intersections.  A good defensive driver will observe items in the area around the vehicle that might cause problems. Checking to be certain there is adequate clearance is the primary thing to watch. In the areas of driveways, alleyways or plant entrances, the effective defensive driver will analyze the situation carefully, slow down, sound a warning when appropriate, and be ready to yield to the other driver involved.

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