; 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 . This can be caused by uneven floors, sudden turns, or overloading the forklifts beyond their capacity. Going over the crest of a hill. On average, a pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes and injured every 10 minutes in traffic crashes in 2020. Brake failure B. Dehydration C. Engine overheating D. Velocitation. What systems should be in place for managing work related road safety? You dont want power of any kind going to the wheels, Solomon says. Front-wheel skids are referred to as understeering, this type of skid usually occurs in front-wheel drive vehicles when braking or accelerating too sharply. An overinflated tire can cause the side tread to leave the surface, leaving only the center tread in contact with the road. Car indicating to turn across our path. Looking through the corner. Check your tire pressure at least once a week, especially in winter, when the pressure can drop. Get to the side of the road immediately and exit the car. Traffic lights. If youre behind one, they can make it difficult to see whats ahead. Vehicle ducking in front of us. Hit your emergency flashers and pump the brake quickly three or four times, Solomon says. Worn tires and incorrect tire pressure make hydroplaning a risk at lower speeds, so be sure to keep your tires in good condition. This feature keeps helps keep your vehicle at a pre-determined safe speed when traveling downhill or on very uneven terrain. Some versions of hill descent assist will activate your brake lights when it activates; if yours doesnt, make sure to continue lightly holding the brake to ensure drivers behind you know you may be gradually slowing. Flashing light up ahead on the right. Vehicle indicating through the intersection may pull out. Traffic islands, traffic lights, pedestrian on the footpath up ahead. Earlier this year, a tragic truck collision in Denver ended up in the deaths of four innocent people and sparked a deeper conversation about fleet safety in the trucking industry. Road on our left. This will require that they are wide enough and, where appropriate, high enough to allow safemovements of vehicles. Was the crash caused by the brakes burning out? It's important to learn how to recognise and avoid hazards while driving to improve road safety for yourself and other road users. Significantly reducing your speed is the only way to stay safe when driving through fog. (Some cars have an electronic brake that only requires a button push. Car pulling out. Looking for potential hazards. Always pay attention to the speed limit. What are the risk factors associated with driving at work? Car pulling out in front of us, yes it does. If youve lost pressure, you want to continue traveling in a straight direction until you can stop. Bus approaching. Every driver will occasionally find themselves in a situation where an accident or collision seems unavoidable. Go 5 mph slower than the posted limit. Adult and child on the footpath. When ascending on a steep hill, maintain a steady speed by applying more pressure on the accelerator. A wax stripper found at automotive stores can erase that residue, clearing your windshield and allowing your wipes to make better contact with the glass. 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. In bad weather, Solomon says to increase it to seven or even 12 seconds to avoid debris and snow hitting your windshield. It also increases the chance of losing control of the vehicle. Driving at night is far more difficult and dangerous than driving during the day, primarily because your visibility is dramatically reduced. Of course, the number-one rule of defensive driving is to avoid unnecessary danger. Pull off the highway if your vehicle engine is in the red zone (too hot). Bright sunlight can impair your vision and even cause temporary blindness. What might a driving at work policy include? 1997-2023 DriversEd.com. Youll have enough time to get up, clean your car off, and drive slowly.. Fit your car with snow tires if you are likely to drive in winter conditions regularly. Managements responsibility to assess the risks from driving and to put in place thesystems to manage that risk. Ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained, including the drivers responsibilities to ensure vehicle roadworthiness if being used on the companys behalf. Car may turn, car is crossing our path. Car entering on the left. Intersection at the bottom of the hill. Parked cars at the bottom. To avoid getting stuck by the roadside in soaring temperatures, make sure your car is hot-weather ready before commencing your journey. Vehicle waiting to turn across our path. Pedestrian on the footpath on the left. pushed backwards. The onus for safety does not lie solely with the truck driver. All Rights Reserved. Cars stopping in front. Telephone box. Turning, vehicles approaching. No vehicles approaching. Pedestrian crossing. Following the car downhill. Opening the boot. Use the following tips to help you: If necessary, clear space around your tires. Lots of traffic markers. Multi-lane road. What to Do: Your instinct might be to put on your high beams to better illuminate the road ahead. This training would be carried out in a designated area away from other employees.3. Dealing with the vehicles coming towards us. Car turning left in front. If that doesnt work, you need to take a lightning-fast look at the floor mat. The majority of truck collisions are not the fault of the truck driver. Scanning through the corner. Gently pumping the brakes may help during front-wheel skids, by shifting weight forward onto the front tires. Shift to reverse and repeat this step traveling backward. Person crossing the road. Trying to look through the car in front or under the car in front. Get access to free and research-validated resources for safety leaders who are ready to build an AI-driven safety program. The term work zone refers to any area on a public road where utility, construction or maintenance work is being conducted. Please see our privacy policy for more details. The hill descent assist helps maintain a safe speed without you needing to use the brakes. Down is more dangerous. There may be a fire nearby and smoke can cause asphyxiation. Dont attempt to travel down hills or other declines that are steeper than you would normally attempt to traverse when using hill descent assist. Car crossing ahead. The following are some of the hazards associated with operating electric forklifts in narrow aisles: Tip-over risks due to narrow clearance: The narrow width of aisles can increase the risk of electric forklifts tipping over. 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. Solomon advises you keep a shovel, brush, and a pair of traction mats in your trunk. This usually occurs when driving in wet or icy conditions, stopping suddenly or entering a turn at a high speed. Car still may pull out. Car crossing the bridge. Slippery roads are the biggest challenge you will face when driving through ice or snow. As the economy grows, so does the demand for supply. Pedestrian crossing ahead of us. Drivers are most susceptible to sun glare in mornings and late afternoons, when the sun is lowest in the sky. Cyclist on the right. Feeling the rush of wind that accompanies a passing 18-wheeler can give you a healthy respect for these road behemoths. What to Do: What I want to do is encourage them to pass me, Solomon says. Intersections on both sides. Read your owners manual.) Through the corner, following a van, built up area, many things going on. Looking for pedestrians. Having a vehicle riding too close to your rear bumper can be a nerve-wracking experience. If necessary, you may lightly pump the brakes during a skid. Reduce your speed and keep to the right-hand side of your lane, as it is common for drivers in this situation to drift too close to the centerline. Looking over the crest of the hill. Scanning through the corner. When driving downhill, scan the road ahead for any dangers and be prepared to steer to safety if necessary. View the short videos showing real life driving situations. It means there have been problems with deer crossing the road., 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. As you are about to enter a decline, reduce your speed below your feature's activation threshold. Checking that. If you ask us, we would rather take the uphill part of the drive because going downhill is harder. A National Sleep Foundation poll says 60% of adults have driven while they were tired, and another 37%, or 103 million people, have fallen asleep at the wheel. There may be barriers, cones, heavy equipment, temporary signs, signal lights and workers in the roadway, prior to, during and beyond work sites. He/she will need to regularly check that the lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and washers, tyres and brakes are all in good working order. Getting behind the wheel without proper training can result in accidents, injuries, and workplace catastrophes. Car indicating to turn left. Traffic lights up ahead. Unsecured Loads. It may go back into the other lane. The same holds true for buses. Car entering on our right. Pedestrian on our right. If it sounds like there might be inclement weather the next day, Solomon tells Mental Floss, set your alarm an hour early. Car turning on the left. Car on the right, open door. A load must be tilted back across all grades, if applicable. Car entering our lane. Car turning on our left. For instance, it is always better to avoid a head-on collision, as it is to collide with a stationary object rather than with one that is moving toward you. Vehicle condition: your brakes, steering, suspension, and cooling systems must be in good condition. Looking through the rear window. Chad Boblett, owner of Boblett Brothers, LLC and Rate Per Mile Master, is an expert when it comes to trucking and fleet safety. Defect reportingprocedures should be clearly set out. The need for drivers to demonstrate that privately owned vehicles are only used for work purposes if they are insured for business use The need for drivers to hold a licence for the type of vehicle they use and for periodic checks on the validity of that licence. Driver training options, e.g. He shares some of his best tips for driving safely: Chad posted a poll on his Facebook group, Rate Per Mile Masters, asking his followers (mostly owner-operators) about the best ways to prevent collisions when cornering or going downhill. Back roads can often be nestled directly in the path of deer, animals that have no understanding of passing traffic and can appear out of nowhere. Check the intersection on our left. All drivers face risks, but the factor that contributes most to crashes and deaths appears to be inexperience.1Newly licensed drivers, primarily teenagers, have the highest crash rates, but even drivers well into their twenties have higher crash rates than older drivers. Scanning ahead, looking over the crest of the hill. Docks & Ramps. Every risk you face during wet and rainy weather can be diminished by reducing your speed; this should be the first action you take. It will be necessary to segregate vehicles and pedestrians by means of clear markings, signage and, on occasion, physical barriers. Checking the road ahead. Up- or down-hill driving? licence entitlement for class of vehicle, ongoing competence assessments); and any risks that might be specific to individual drivers or their driving circumstances (e.g. Which of the two options would you choose? If glare is coming from the left-side window, remember that most visors are detachable on one end and should be able to pivot and block peripheral light. Recognized as a Best Remote Large Places to Work. Both front and rear-wheel traction loss can be corrected by looking and steering in the direction you wish the vehicle to go. 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. Fueling. Car entering on the left. Also, you should be able to maintain a safe speed on winding mountain roads. 1.5 H&S Management Systems Measuring, Audit, Review, 2.3 Musculoskeletal Hazards And Risk Control, 2.4 Work Equipment Hazards And Risk Control, 2.7 Chemical And Biological Health Hazards And Risk Control, 2.8 Physical And Psychological Health Hazards And Risk Control. If youre stuck between trucks on a three-lane highway, decrease your speed by about five miles and let both trucks overtake you. Water on the roads surface can seriously impede your vehicle control, while the rain itself impacts visibility. Once the vehicle begins to straighten out, counter-steer in the opposite direction, Solomon says. A. drivers in the city B. drivers maneuvering abruptly C. drivers who are alone.+ D. more than one driver Keep in mind that in most states, drivers are legally required to clear all ice and snow from their vehicles before a journey. Have any insights, questions or comments? Checking the intersection blocked on our left. Car pulling out. Mapping out your trip in advance will minimize stress and ensure you do not miss vital exits on the freeway. Use a low gear to help slow your vehicle down. It could be a: As drivers gain experience they develop skills in scanning the road ahead and around them, and they become better at recognising that a potentially dangerous situation is developing. You can attract attention by securing a brightly colored piece of cloth to the outside of the car. Lots of pedestrians, lots of vehicle movements. Keep an emergency supply kit in your car during the winter months, just in case you are stranded by the roadside. Pedestrian crossing. Youre stopped with a guardrail or pillar next to you and your transmission locked. Flash your hazard lights to warn other drivers. While the goal must be not to drive in such adverse conditions, you must know how to handle a blizzard and stay safe, should you get caught in one while out in your car. with a lift truck load fully raised); collisions with other vehicles and/or fixed objects or structures; and/or. Take our basic traffic school course to keep your record clear. Van waiting to pull out. HIABs) to load or unload vehicles can be hazardous.Working at heightThis can be an issue when working on a loading bay or perhaps the trailer or tail-lift of a vehicle. Going over the crest of the hill. We'd love to hear from you! Vehicle may be turning opposite directions in front of us. This hazard occurs when your car hits a pool of water fast enough to glide across its surface. You may also wish to keep a pair of strong sunglasses in your glove compartment for particularly bright days. Also, you should be able to maintain a safe speed on winding mountain roads. Following a car down hill. What to Do: The big mistake people make with a sudden loss of pressure is to hit the brake and stop to save the tire, Solomon says. Which of the two options would you choose? A blown front right tire will cause the vehicle to drift left, for example. Be mindful of slick roads and reduce your speed when the roadway is wet.