Driving Safety
Since none of us became famous race car drivers, we all need to ensure we take steps to be safe drivers! And this starts with seat belt usage. Much like the LAWS OF EVERY STATE, we require that you wear a seat belt any time you are operating or are a passenger in an Evolution Maintenance owned vehicle. Oh, and hands-free cell phone usage only as well! Period.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is much more than just obeying traffic laws. It means being aware of what is going on around the vehicle on the road. It also means to drive safely during potential unsafe conditions.
The primary goal of defensive driving is to avoid unnecessary accidents. There are steps that can be taken to identify potential hazards and help us in working to avoid them.
Ensure there is a clear line of site for other drivers and for the vehicle being driven:
- Do not assume that others have a clear line of site. Use mirrors and windows to check for a clear path when changing lanes and turning. Work to get out of a blind spot before passing. Keep signals on until the move is complete.
Stay alert to surrounding changes:
- Look ahead of the immediate area to be aware of any upcoming variations in traffic. Continually scan the area and watch for taillights. Keep internal car noises low to stay alert to horns or emergency vehicle sirens.
Reduce speed when necessary:
- This can apply to many situations including entering a construction zone, when driving in bad weather, when entering a school zone or an unusually congested area. Keep alert in these areas for pedestrians and people on bikes. This also applies to poorly maintained streets or one with many curves.
Trust cannot be placed in others to take safety precautions:
- Never assume tied down items or any type of load being carried is safe. If something looks loose or is bouncing a little bit more than it should be, slow down or move away from that vehicle. If following behind them give ample room and slow speed to stop quickly.
- Also watch for distracted drivers. If someone exhibits strange driving behavior such as driving very slow or fast or swerving in and out of lanes, avoid driving close to that vehicle.
Source - https://www.compsourcemutual.com/resources/safety-library/defensive-driving/
Severe Weather Driving Tips
When driving a truck, drivers see it all relating to weather from rain, tornados, snow, ice and high winds. Unfortunately, there are times when drivers have no choice but to drive through the conditions. Therefore, it is important that drivers understand the possibilities and know how to handle each situation.
Preparation for trip with severe weather potential:
- Ensure wiper fluid is full
- Clean interior of windshield to prevent fogging
- Watch weather forecasts beforehand; plan to arrive before or after severe weather is coming through the route if possible
- Make sure to carry an emergency kit with water, food, weather radio, flashlight, blanket etc.
Rain and storms:
- Slow down to avoid slippery areas on the road
- Give ample room between the car ahead
- During hailstorms pull under cover if possible and wait it out; often hail is short lived
- Turn on headlights to be better visible to others even during daylight hours
Tornados:
- When possible leave the highway and go indoors; seek shelter
- Pull over and get low; avoid underpasses that can cause a wind tunnel affect
- Stay alert to patterns of the storm and avoid the path
Snow and ice:
- Slow down; go below the speed limit if necessary, to remain in control
- Keep a safe following distance from cars ahead; if the taillights are in view it may be a sign of following too closely
- Apply breaks slowly and carefully to avoid sliding
High Winds:
- Slow down as much as necessary to have good control over the truck
- If winds make it impossible to control the vehicle pull over until it passes
Source - https://www.compsourcemutual.com/resources/safety-library/severe-weather-safety-talk-2/
Cell Phone Usage
Currently cell phone use for any business is just a typical part of communication. Along with this comes the issue of cell phone use while driving. Clear rules should be understood and reviewed before you get behind the wheel.
Acceptable cell phone use:
Know your company’s cell phone policy and follow it (as mentioned, hands free is required)
Phones to be used for GPS should be set up prior to beginning your trip and mounted properly to avoid distraction of reaching or looking for your phone during the trip
A hands-free device may be used and no more than one button needs to be pushed for accessing
Use voice activation when dialing a number
Set up automatic reply messages to let your callers know you are driving and can call them once stopped
Change the cell phone voicemail greeting to: “Hi, this is (name). I am either away from my phone or currently driving; please leave a message”
Speak up when in the car with someone who uses a cell phone while driving
Action to avoid:
Do not take a call if hands free is not available and pull over to have the conversation or let it go to voicemail
Minimize lengthy conversations while driving to limit distraction
Do not re-route or look up a new destination while driving and pull over or exit in a safe area to do so
The next time we consider being involved in distracting behavior while driving we can remember these statistics provided by the National Safety Councils website and it may help us to reconsider our actions:
Drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in a crash
One out of every four motor vehicle crashes involve cell phone use at the time of the crash
Every 24 seconds a crash occurs in the U.S. because of drivers using cell phones and texting
Drivers talking on cell phones had slower reaction times than drivers with .08 blood alcohol content
Our brain can miss seeing up to 50% of the driving environment when we are talking on a cell phone behind the wheel
Each of us can help. Everyone plays a role in making our roadways safer. Make a personal commitment to drive cell free, and if it is a difficult change to make, use the technologies that are available to prevent cell phone use. One call has the potential to change everything. Make a pledge to be on the road and off the phone.
Source - https://www.compsourcemutual.com/resources/safety-library/cell-phone-use-while-driving-safety-talk/
Please utilize the tips above and the links below for best practices, tips and other ways to protect yourself, others and Evolution Maintenance, Inc.
