Driver Safety Awareness
For
Appalachian Mountain Club
August Camp
Presented by
HUB International Brewer & Lord
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Overview of Safe Driving Workshop
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Accident Elimination
What Are Your Skills?
Attitudes & Choices
Road Rage Avoidance
Defensive Driving Skills
What Can You Do to Drive More
Safely?
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Accident Elimination
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We are committed to Accident
Elimination
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Our goal is to help drivers avoid
collisions
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On the way to zero accidents we
can learn from past experience….
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Learning from the past...
What are the things you have
done to avoid collisions?
Other workshop attendees have said,
• “Looking over my left shoulder before
pulling out into the left lane to pass.”
• “I look way ahead, not just at the car’s
tail lights in front of me.”
• “Predicting moronic driving behavior.”
• “I use my directionals.”
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Collisions - Preventable or Not?
Collisions are the result of driver
errors and decisions. They are
predictable and preventable.
A preventable collision is one in which the
driver failed to do everything reasonable
h/she could have done to prevent or avoid
the collision.
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Collisions are costly...
– Embarrassment
– Inconvenience
– Injury to self or volunteers/members
– Damage to the Club’s vehicles
– Damage to the property of others
– If severe... loss of your life…or
someone else’s
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Poor Driver’s Characteristics
– Thinks ‘me first,’ ‘you lose’ or ‘get out
of my way’…
– Blames others
– Tailgates
– Drives too fast or too slow
– Doesn’t signal
– Unaware
– Distracted
– Rude
– Easily angered
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Good Driver’s Characteristics
– Thinks ‘Win Win’ thoughts
– Takes personal responsibility
– SAFE following distance
– Adjusts for changing
conditions
– Reasonable speed
– Stays Focused
– Courteous and patient
– Aware (scans all around)
– Communicates (passengers &
drivers)
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Passive Aggressive Driving Behaviors
– Insists on doing the speed limit in the
passing lane- It’s the law!
– Holds up long line drivers on one-lane roads
– Ignores drivers entering lane - closes the
gap
– Ignores yield signs
– Doesn’t give proper signals
– Sloooow to get going on green lights
– Repeatedly taps brakes or slows way down
– Insufficiently alert to others or conditions
– Makes gestures and facial expressions to
self to show disapproval of other drivers
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– Speeds up when being passed
Road Rage Avoidance
What to do When someone else is raging...
Practice your A B C...’s
• Avoid eye contact
• Behave courteously
• Calm down and Call authorities
• Drive Responsibly
• Emotions under control
Think before you act...
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Cellular Phone Usage...
Inherent Challenges
 Distracting
 Reduces Reaction Time
 Nine times more likely to have
collision
 Reactions similar to DUI
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Cellular Phone Usage
Solutions
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Do not use in complex
driving situations
Look and listen more
Increase following
distance
Let it go to voice mail
Best option – safely pull
over to call
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Defensive Driving Skills
Using your eyes effectively
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Scan the road ahead 12 secs.
Scan mirrors every 3 - 5 secs.
Get the big picture
Observe traffic flow
Leave a way out
Communicate with drivers
Keep sun out of eyes
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Safe Driving - The Basics
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Wear seatbelts (everyone)
Do not speed and go with the flow
Scan all around your vehicle
Don’t drink or drug and drive
If too tired have alternate approved driver
Don’t tailgate
Avoid backing and double check if have to back
- use spotters - communicate
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Special Characteristics of Vans
– Lower speeds for cornering
– Wide right turns
– Longer stopping distance
– Big blind spots
– Avoid sudden stops and turns
– Be alert to passing or close following
vehicles
– Susceptible to cross winds
– Secure loads and check often
– Any other suggestions?
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Stopping Distance Equation
Reaction Time + Braking Distance =
Total Stopping Distance
RT = 3/4 second for a healthy 25 year old
BD = Depends on size/weight of the vehicle
TSD = Depends on many conditions
NOTE: RT = Time lapse from when you see a
hazard to when you get your foot to the brake
Other factors such as weather and road conditions
should be considered when determining the TSD.
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Stopping Distance for Vans
VAN
Straight Truck
40
40
RT / BD
44 / 100'
44 / 125'
TSD
144'
169'
Car
VAN
Straight Truck
55
55
55
60 / 165'
60 / 220'
60 / 275'
225'
280'
335'
Car
VAN
Straight Truck
65
65
65
71 / 245'
71 / 345'
71 / 454'
316'
416'
525'
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Collision Avoidance
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Types of collisions
– Rear end collisions
– Backing
– Intersection collisions
– Passing
– Head-on collisions
– Pedestrian collisions
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4 Second Following Distance Worksheet
Answers
1. 6 seconds (4 seconds plus one for night driving
and one for wet pavement/rain)
2. 6 seconds (4 seconds plus one for the fog,
and one for the tailgater)
3. 5 seconds (4 seconds plus one more for
following the motorcycle)
4. 6 seconds (4 seconds plus one for the reduced
visibility and one for following the tractor-trailer)
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Collision Avoidance
Backing and Maneuvering Tips
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Avoid backing when practical
Back in/Drive out
Use pull through parking spaces
Check rear & sides before getting in
Use a spotter - agree on signals - always
keep the spotter’s eyes in sight
– When in doubt get out & look
The time you save from avoiding a collision
will be worth it!
...
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Collision Avoidance
Passing
Is the pass necessary?
Is it safe?
– Signal your intent to pass
– Keep your eye on the vehicle you’re
passing
– When you can see both headlights and
asphalt in front of the vehicle:
Signal your intent to pull back in
Begin to pull in
Keep an eye on the vehicle in right mirror
Turn off directional
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Collision Avoidance
Being Passed
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Watch vehicle, tires and driver’s mannerisms
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Scan further ahead for oncoming traffic
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Expect them to pull in too close and prepare
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Watch for way out
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Communicate - toot horn if too close. Flash lights
once they have enough clearance to pull in
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Think Win Win - help them make a successful pass
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Collision Avoidance
Intersection Collisions
– Always look Left, Right, Left
– Cover the Brake
– Scan Ahead (12 sec.)
– Look for Pedestrians
– Interior Distractions
– Exterior Distractions
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Collision Avoidance
Head-on collisions
– Most destructive
– Highest fatality rate
– Can be avoided or
changed to a less
destructive collision by
following the 3 R’s...
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3 R’s to Avoid Head-on
Collisions:
–Reduce speed
–Drive to the Right
–Drive off the Road
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IF YOU HAVE A COLLISION
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Make sure you & passengers are okay
Follow the club’s procedures &
guidelines
Call for help/notify police
Get witnesses
Protect the scene/take photos (when
appropriate)
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Express no opinion as to whom was at
fault
Be courteous (You are representing
Appalachian Mountain Club)
Stay at the Scene
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Improving your Safe Driving Skills
(One Drive at a Time)
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4+ second following
distance
Look before backing Use spotter if need be
Do speed limit or go
w/flow
‘If in doubt, get out’ to
look again before
backing
Scan ahead 12 seconds
Cover the brake
Be Patient
Reduce interior
distractions
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Be more courteous
Resist tailgating
Wear seatbelts
Positive driving attitude
Road Rage ABC’s
Don’t take other driver’s
actions personally
Look over shoulder before
moving out of lane
Safe Passing Skills
Use signals
Use mirrors frequently
Communicate with others
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The Role of the Navigator
When operating camp vans, the individual in the front passenger
seat is assigned the job of navigator. When you are a lead van to
camp, this person is most often your hike leader. Regardless, this
individual has several responsibilities.
- Provides Directions and Guidance
(should have a map and knowledge of destination.)
- Responsible for communicating with other passengers.
- Responsible for dashboard controls.
(temperature, radio, defrost)
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Driving at August Camp
ROAD CONDITIONS
Access to trailheads involves driving on
less traveled roads. These roads are often not
paved and have steep grades.
This an cause skiding, sliding and throwing of
rocks and gravel. Road conditions and possible
vehicle damage can delay trips and cause
expense to August camp.
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Necessary Precautions
- Reduce Speed!
- Avoid Potholes
- Shift into low gear when
going downhill.
Specifics for this years vehicles and
camp location will be reviewed at the
first night of camp.
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Thank You...
…Safe Driving
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