Two lanes in the one direction. If necessary, you may lightly pump the brakes during a skid. Parked car on our right. Slightly damp roads can pose more of a hazard, as the water may loosen oil and chemicals which have become ingrained in the asphalt. Driving safely at night hinges on maintaining a reasonable speed, and appropriate use of headlights. mechanical failures, e.g. Bus shelter on the left. You will never be going too fast by doing this. Youre a sitting duck there, Solomon says. It could be a: child chasing a ball onto the road parked car door opening vehicle merging into your lane or stopping suddenly in front of you slippery road surface after rain. Mountain driving is very different from driving in flat lands. Nothing can jolt a driver like the sudden loss of control of their automobile after hitting a slick patch of pavement. Trying to look through the car in front or under the car in front. Gently pumping the brakes may help during front-wheel skids, by shifting weight forward onto the front tires. Understanding how this occurs will help you regain traction in an emergency. Instead, ease off the gas pedal until you can feel your tires regain connection with the road. Frequent intersections B. Pedestrians and truck drivers in the road C. Soft shoulders Checking over the crest of the hill. pushed backwards. Veteran truck drivers like Boblett understand how to react to various driving situations. You dont want power of any kind going to the wheels, Solomon says. No vehicles passing us on the left. If youre stuck between trucks on a three-lane highway, decrease your speed by about five miles and let both trucks overtake you. Checking the intersection blocked on our left. Black ice is especially dangerous, as it is difficult to spot. Looks like a more built-up area up ahead. Car on the right, open door. The U.S. Department of Transportation shows since 2008 there has been a steady increase in the number of fatal truck collisions in the U.S. (page 18). Pedestrians on the left. At Motive, we believe in flexibility, connection and productivity from home, in the office, or anywhere in between. Approaching traffic. This data can then be used as a training tool to aid the driver in becoming safer on the road. The hill descent assist will ensure your vehicle doesnt reach an unsafe declining speed by further applying the brakes if needed. Driving in the rain can be every bit as dangerous as driving in icy or snowy conditions. Heres what he had to say. Always read the road ahead. Brake lights on the vehicle in front. This early detection gives them more time to make a decision about the hazard and respond to it appropriately. Cars entering this intersection. The brakes likely failed on the truck because they got too hot. Distances that drivers have to coverIt is not unusual for some company drivers to spend half their working hours on the road. Gain insights into your fleet fuel use and identify ways to improve efficiency. Looking through the cars in front. Looking through the trees up ahead. Turn on your headlights, activate fog lights, activate your windscreen wipers and reduce speed. Brainscape helps you realize your greatest personal and professional ambitions through strong habits and hyper-efficient studying. A hazard can be any possible source of danger on or near the road that could lead to a crash, and it can come from any direction. [There are a lot of] hard corners going down this mountain and if drivers are going too fast they may lose control, Boblett said. Vehicle suddenly approaching on the left, wants to come across. Pedestrian crossing ahead of us. Cars approaching. Parked cars, people may step out, their vision is obscured. In some places, you will see a sign warning of a steep hill as shown in this figure. How a 1,000-vehicle fleet simplified compliance for its drivers and managers. Keeping a pair of sunglasses handy is the best solution, but there are a few other ways to cope. After a heavy snowfall, you might return to your car to find the wheels surrounded by snow. It is advisable to use this brake-drying technique before you need to use the brakes, if you suspect they may be wet. In bad weather, Solomon says to increase it to seven or even 12 seconds to avoid debris and snow hitting your windshield. When driving on particularly slippery surfaces you should avoid sudden changes in speed or direction, as this may send your vehicle into a skid. Pedestrian crossing. Boblett states that rookie drivers, who have improper training, often panic, overreact, or make wrong decisions. Check the intersection on our left. In many cases employees will also have to drive long distances while still undertaking a full days work.Driving hoursThese are likely to be linked in many cases to distances travelled.Work schedulesUnrealistic or badly organised work schedules can often result in employees takingchances with safety.StressDriving-related stress often occurs when the individual feels overwhelmed by thesurrounding environment and road conditions.Weather conditionsThe weather can pose a risk as it may hinder the drivers visibility, their ability to stop within safe distances, and their control of the vehicle. Van waiting to pull out. (Note: The FMCSA may delay implementation until 2022. Both front and rear-wheel traction loss can be corrected by looking and steering in the direction you wish the vehicle to go. Water on the roadway that is more than a few inches deep is extremely dangerous and must be avoided. Pedestrians on the side. Stick to low-beam headlights in built-up areas and when you are in close proximity to other drivers. Looking through the corner. 2023 National Safety Council The use of a banksman to guide drivers may also be necessary.Selection and training of driversDriver training normally consistsof three distinct stages:1. You also want to turn the wheel in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Watch the speed when carrying a heavy load. Pedestrian on our right. Checking the road ahead. slippery road surface after rain. Looking through the corner. If a collision cannot be avoided, you must know how to minimize the impact of the crash to protect yourself and other drivers. This feature keeps helps keep your vehicle at a pre-determined safe speed when traveling downhill or on very uneven terrain. Looking at the parked cars on the left. If you need to brake suddenly, the car is likely to collide with yours. Trying to read the road underneath the car in front. Checking the parked cars. Once the vehicle begins to straighten out, counter-steer in the opposite direction, Solomon says. Telephone box. If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system, you should apply firm and consistent pressure to the brakes without pumping them. While some tires may pick up a stray nail or sharp object and deflate slowly, others lose pressure suddenly. Car turning on the left. Road on the left. Vehicle indicating through the intersection may pull out. Car indicating to turn left. Suitably designated parking areas for vehicles should be provided, preferably away from pedestrian or working areas. When driving through smoke you must be aware of additional dangers. Keep in mind that in most states, drivers are legally required to clear all ice and snow from their vehicles before a journey. Fifty kilometres an hour suburban street. ; In fact, you will increase the life of your brakes by a few months (or even years, depending on how much steep downhill driving you do) if you simply use engine braking whenever possible rather than actually pressing the . An experienced commentator points out potential hazards facing drivers and suggests ways that drivers could respond safely. Animal crossings. This would take into account factors such as weather and perhaps the possibility that indoor floors might become wet and slippery (e.g. Check your tire pressure at least once a week, especially in winter, when the pressure can drop. Water on the roads surface can seriously impede your vehicle control, while the rain itself impacts visibility. This blog discusses 15 common road hazards and the best ways to prevent them. In both situations you should ease off the accelerator and brake, so that the wheels begin to roll and regain traction. This is a steep grade mountain coming down into Denver on I-70. Looking through the corner. A floating vehicle may be swept off the roadway into a deeper body of water. What startegies can be put in place for controlling risks related to transport operations in the workplace? Parked cars on both sides. This presents a risk of falling from height.Securing loadsUnrestrained loads can increase the risk of vehicle rollover and load spillage, and risk the life of the driver and other road users. Of those, 13% say they fall asleep while driving at least once a month, and 4% say they have caused a crash by falling asleep while . Scan well ahead, look amongst the parked cars. Data from ELDs must be monitored and analyzed. If you see a deer up ahead, take your foot off the gas to slow your speed, then flash your lights. Drivers are most susceptible to sun glare in mornings and late afternoons, when the sun is lowest in the sky. Your owner's manual or a label inside of the driver's side door will tell you the correct tire pressure for the vehicle. Drivers should avoid passing, crossing or merging with other lanes of traffic in foggy conditions, as limited visibility may lead you to misjudge another vehicles distance and speed. Keep an emergency supply kit in your car during the winter months, just in case you are stranded by the roadside. Commercial fleets save up to 13% on fuel costs, study shows. Car approaching. The big question about this new training is: Is it enough?. Looking up the hill. Youll have enough time to get up, clean your car off, and drive slowly.. This feature works with your vehicles existing braking systems to block you from going past a certain speed while traveling downhill or on unsteady terrain. Visit gomotive.com to learn more. Information that has been provided by the National Transportation Safety Board draws attention to some of the hazards associated with driving through a tunnel. Use a low gear to help slow your vehicle down. Unfortunately, hazardous conditions can occur in any climate and during any season, despite your best efforts to avoid them. Sun glare is incredibly dangerous as it can impair vision and in extreme cases, cause momentary blindness. When you need to decide on a slowdown in case of potential accident, you basically need to annihilate momentum, and when you are going up, gravity contributes to the total work needed to slow down. Going over the crest of the hill. Traffic lights up ahead. Of all the adverse weather conditions you may have to deal with while driving, fog is the most dangerous. As always, prevention should be your priority. Scanning ahead, car changing lanes in front of us. Like fog, driving through smoke can dramatically reduce visibility. Always plan your escape routes and expect the unexpected. You can recover from an acceleration skid by easing your foot off the gas. Bus approaching. Additional hazards could include stored energy in the form of compressedair, hydraulic systems or heat from engine components. This usually occurs when driving in wet or icy conditions, stopping suddenly or entering a turn at a high speed. Motive reviewed anonymized data aggregated from ELDs to determine routes with high instances of hard braking, cornering, and acceleration. Know what gear you need to be in before going downhill. Driving through it can reduce visibility in a manner similar to a bad snowfall. Up- or down-hill driving? This data can also be used as an incentive for drivers to continue to improve their driving records and aid others who need improvement. Speed: your speed should not be too fast for road and weather conditions. Check traffic through your mirrors. Be sure to put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers and recovery vehicles to your presence. Can you drive your brand new car without an OR/CR? Down is more dangerous. Many things to deal with, scanning both sides of the road. If that looks clear, then go into neutral. There are several different kinds including: Distracted driving. Head on collisions happen for a multitude of reasons from distracted driving to drunk driving to fatigued driving and more. If you ask us, we would rather take the uphill part of the drive because going downhill is harder. vehicle entrance doors that are open to the elements). It is relatively harder because you need to consider a number of things such as preserving your car's brakes--failure to do so may result into a not-so-happy ending. Reduce your speed to allow more time to react, should you need to evade an approaching hazard. Entering into a bend. Oversteering often happens when the driver takes a bend or lane-change too quickly, when the surface of the road is slippery. If a driver is not paying attention, it may be easy to lose control. Darkness, eyes need time to adjust. There may be barriers, cones, heavy equipment, temporary signs, signal lights and workers in the roadway, prior to, during and beyond work sites. Make sure you know how to fit and use your snow chains before you must do so in an emergency. What to Do: For any type of driving in the rain, make sure your tire tread depth is no less than 5/32 of an inch, and preferably much more: new tires typically start around 10/32 of an inch. different driver categories and the associated risks (e.g. What management control activities are required in high risk areas? In 2020, the Federal Motor Carriers Association (FMCSA) will introduce Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) to enhance current driver training and increase fleet safety on the roads. Making journeys when traffic flows are reducedTimeSufficient time should be allowed for journeys to be undertakenDistanceThe distances that are driven may well have a bearing on safety.Weather conditionsWeather conditions can create additionalproblems when planning journeys. The nature of expressway driving means that a single accident or collision can end up disrupting many different vehicles. Read your owners manual.) A driver follows a three-second sequence to scan and react to a potential hazard: The driver has one . Get access to free and research-validated resources for safety leaders who are ready to build an AI-driven safety program. Vehicle waiting to turn across our path. Turning, vehicles approaching. Car pulling out in front of us, yes it does. May duck across in front. This can be caused by uneven floors, sudden turns, or overloading the forklifts beyond their capacity. Having a vehicle riding too close to your rear bumper can be a nerve-wracking experience. He has taught driving courses for 47 years. Most cars differ in their allowable operating range for hill descent assist, with some allowing you to go as slow as 3 mph or as fast as 38 mph. Water collecting in pools on the road is dangerous, though thankfully, relatively easy to spot. In addition, floor surfaces should be properly maintained and suitable for the location and activities being undertaken. Whether traveling during light rain or torrential downpour, drivers will have to contend with reduced visibility and slippery roads. 1. What to Do: If youre in deer country and its dark, you can try flashing your headlights to get a deers attention. another car suddenly jumping across. Dislodging it while the vehicle is in motion is dangerous, so prevention is key: Make sure your mat is the right fit for your vehicle, is snapped in place if that option is available, and that you haven't stacked mats on top of each other. First, you need to activate your hill descent assist, which is typically found somewhere on your dashboard near your vehicles traction control button. And as bad as it may sound, it will be even worse if they survive the impact. For some practical advice on what to do in these situations, we asked Solomon to break down 10 . Solomon also recommends changing your wipers regularly: a more durable winter blade, a March rain blade, and another August rain blade. In addition to changing weather, be prepared for steep hills, windy roads, wildlife, and rocks in the roadway. Pedestrians on the footpath on the right. ergonomic considerations, mileages that will be covered. Watching for pedestrians up on the footpath on the left. Person waiting at a bus stop. In addition to adverse weather, traction loss can be caused by issues with your vehicle. In the worst case scenario, vehicles can roll over due to load shift as the vehicle can become unbalanced and overturn. Many vehicles ahead. If youre down to three good tires, youre no longer in a position to drive safely on the road. Some versions may be activated from your multifunction display or in your terrain management controls dial. Helps keep you at a steady speed when driving down a hill or other decline. Step 1: Look for hazards that may result in harm when driving on public roads. Step 2: Decide who might be harmed. Step 3: Evaluate the risk and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. Vehicles approaching. Watching the vehicles in front, they may turn across our path. That's especially sound advice for a good part of the country, as the winter season means more driving perils, including poor visibility, snowbanks, and ice. Copyright 2023 ePermitTest. Scanning the road well ahead. You can attract attention by securing a brightly colored piece of cloth to the outside of the car. If traffic is high or the road is narrow, go through the passengers side door. Driving at night is far more difficult and dangerous than driving during the day, primarily because your visibility is dramatically reduced. Cars approaching. This will require that they are wide enough and, where appropriate, high enough to allow safemovements of vehicles. The first time you spray it on, youll get a crusty, filmy look, which is all the wax youre dissolving., If your windshield is clean but the rain is still obscuring your vision, then youre probably driving too fast for the wipers to clean the glass efficiently. brakes / tyre bursts. Truck approaching. Vehicle approaching. List factors to be considered in assessing risks for the driver, journey and the vehicle? This may make it run off the road. So, here are, Advisory: DPWH to conduct weekend repairs in Makati, Pasig, Mitsubishi launches referral program for L300 to celebrate 60th anniversary in PH, Cavitex C5 Link Segment 2 Phase 2 construction works to begin soon, MMDA hints possible number coding suspension next week, MMDA single ticketing system dry run slated Apr. A hazard can be any possible source of danger on or near the road that could lead to a crash, and it can come from any direction. Car entering on the left. If youve lost pressure, you want to continue traveling in a straight direction until you can stop. parked car door opening. In addition, drivers would be required to sound the vehicle horn when entering or exiting buildings, negotiating blind cornersand/or reversing. Pedestrian on our left. Car pulling out. Bad weather. The ability to stop a vehicle is probably the most important function of all, and when it fails, its easy for panic to set in. Following workmans utility up the hill. Chad Boblett, owner of Boblett Brothers, LLC and Rate Per Mile Master, is an expert when it comes to trucking and fleet safety. Pedestrians wanting to cross the road. What might a driving at work policy include? If your vehicle experiences difficulties traveling up steep roadways, pull off the road at the first place you may do so safely, or stay in the right lane to allow other vehicles to pass. You need to consider how likely it is that each hazard will cause harm Step 4: Record your Clear the snow away from the wheels and try moving forward or in reverse. Vehicle suddenly turning across oncoming traffic. Looking over the crest of the hill. The feature is intended to assist you in maintaining control of the vehicle, by traveling at a safe speed downhill. Reading the traffic up ahead. Helps smooth out driving by adjusting each wheels brakes with every turn. As the winter months approach and the days grow shorter, you will often need to compensate for poor visibility and additional hazards. ; Actually HAVE brakes at the end of the hill! Following the car downhill. Very busy area. one and a half times. List the ways in which forklift trucks may overturn? Vehicle condition: your brakes, steering, suspension, and cooling systems must be in good condition. Parked vehicles as well. Looking through the rear window. What It Does Not Do: Manage a cars speed going up a hill. Truck approaching. What to Do: A little foresight is best here. As they spin, they cant find any grip on the slick powder, and youre going nowhere fast. Using your brakes continually for an extended period of time may result in overheating, which could result in brake failure. Employers with five or more employees are required torecord the significant findings of their risk assessment. a proper check was made; those who might be affected were consulted; and all of the obvious hazards were identified and addressed. Step 5: Review your assessment and revise as necessary to ensure that the risks to those who drive, and others, are controlled. New rules coming soon In 2020, the Federal Motor Carriers Association (FMCSA) will introduce Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) to enhance current driver training and increase fleet safety on the roads. Cyclist on the footpath on the left. Pedestrian up ahead. A worn tire at 2/32 of an inch is asking for a crash, as the stopping distance of a car is increased and traction is reduced. Could it have been avoided with better driver coaching? Allowing for children that might ride out/step out. Braking in front. If your journey involves using unfamiliar limited access highways, planning your route ahead of time is essential. Be alert for large trucks and buses that may be going too fast. Winter or summer, the sun sometimes has a way of shining through your windshield just the right angle to effectively blind you. They might take it as a sign to hang back. All rights reserved. Many shadows from trees, eyes need time to adjust. Watch where that car goes. Wet weather always makes driving more hazardous. A. drivers in the city B. drivers maneuvering abruptly C. drivers who are alone.+ D. more than one driver You can estimate depth by sticking a penny upside-down in the tread: If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, it's time for new tires. with a lift truck load fully raised); collisions with other vehicles and/or fixed objects or structures; and/or. Snow chains can be an enormous help in slippery situations, where it would otherwise be impossible to gain traction. View the short videos showing real life driving situations. As you are about to enter a decline, reduce your speed below your feature's activation threshold. Driving too fast makes it difficult to stop or turn in time to avoid an obstacle. Thick fog makes for extremely poor visibility. Pull off the highway if your vehicle engine is in the red zone (too hot). The same holds true for buses. Car waiting to turn right. Vehicles often build up speed moving down a steep hill. Pedestrian crossing. Its not uncommon for the mat to get bunched up behind the brake pedal, making it hard to move. Like what you see? It is a major contributing factor to accidents and injuries. You will be the first one to receive the latest updates and announcements.. Be aware of your downhill speed. You can avoid hydroplaning by reducing your speed on wet and rainy days. If the brakes become too hot, they may start to fade. Choosing not to drive in rain, snow or fog, at night or during any other hazardous conditions is always the smartest decision. 1. Following a car down hill. Of course, the number-one rule of defensive driving is to avoid unnecessary danger. 2. For some practical advice on what to do in these situations, we asked Solomon to break down 10 common driving obstacles and the best ways to cope with them. Parked cars at the bottom. During freezing and near-freezing conditions you should reduce your speed, even if no ice or snow is visible on the road. Six inches of water can cause loss of control, 12 inches will float most vehicles and two feet will float pick-up trucks and SUVs. Many car dealerships, could be many pedestrians. If I can see their reflection, then they can probably see me.. People dont always think of a torrential downpour the same way they think of a snowstorm, but heavy rain can impede visibility and cause hydroplaning, where the wheels come off the pavement and onto the surface of the water, causing drivers to lose control.