Hazards While Driving on Company Business
Multi-Tasking
A lot of the hazards people face while driving on company business result from multitasking, that is, doing more than one thing at a time while driving. , During a five-year period an
estimated 7.2 million drivers were involved in a crash because they were distracted while
driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Of the approximately 7.2 million drivers involved in a distracted-related
crash within the past five years, nearly one-quarter (23%) say they were
distracted by looking for something outside the vehicle, (0.8% of all drivers) such
as a building or street sign, while an additional 11% were distracted by another
driver (0.4% of drivers), and 3% were distracted by an animal outside of the car.
About one of five (19%) drivers involved in a distracted-related crash (0.7% of all
drivers) were dealing with a child or other passenger. One in seven (14% or 0.5%
of all drivers) were looking for something inside the vehicle. An additional one in
five were distracted by some other distraction.” 1
AAA Texas invited news reporters to drive a half-mile obstacle course to illustrate the
dangers of distracted driving and publicize the fact that driver inattention contributes to almost
one-fourth (23 percent) of all vehicle crashes reported by police. A reporter from The Dallas
Morning News set a course record with a grade of 64, but still failed the test.
“At various times ... I dialed my cellphone and peeled a banana while
driving 30 mph. I found 105.7 on the radio, and I found the Mapsco coordinates
for 3100 Knox St.
“I lost points every time I slowed down too much or sped up too fast. I
also earned a 12-point deduction for hitting a ball unexpectedly thrown in front of
my vehicle. Under normal driving conditions, the ball could have been a child
running into the street from behind a parked car, organizers said.
“I didn't lose points, however, for driving with my knees while looking up
an address in the Mapsco. I also easily handled the challenge of counting
backward while driving, which was supposed to simulate a driver distracted by an
intense conversation. ...
“There I was, bobbing and weaving through the orange cones and
muttering numbers (993, 986, 979 ... sharp left turn ... 972, 965 ... sharp right turn
... 895, 888). I felt a little like Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man. ...
“Seriously, the course is not something I want to do again or experience
in real life. Admittedly, I took some liberties while driving, such as looking at the
Mapsco way too long and letting the banana fly to the floorboard when I had to
brake quickly. I knew a mistake only meant a crushed traffic cone. Still, my
‘crash’ with the ball left me a little unnerved and shaky.
1
Dawn Royal and The Gallup Organization, “National Survey of Distracted and Drowsy Driving Attitudes
and Behaviors: 2002” (April, 2003), Report DOT HS 809 566, Nat’l Hwy. Traffic Safety Administration,
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/drowsy_driving1/survey-distractive03/FIG8-desc.htm.
Hazards While Driving on Company Business – 8/15/05
1
"’The basic message is that people need to pay attention when they're
behind the wheel," said Carol Thorp, a spokeswoman for AAA Texas.” 2
Restricted View
Limitations on your field of vision reduce your ability to drive defensively. The popularity
of window tinting and larger family vehicles has had an adverse impact on driver safety.
“I feel I need to step up on my soap box and preach about the one thing
that I believe has done the most to increase the danger level of our roads:
window tinting. ... [T]here are a lot of vehicles on the road these days that I
simply cannot see around---therefore it is crucial that I be able to see through
them in order to have good knowledge of the road and traffic ahead of me (a key
to safety).
“Being surrounded by cars, trucks and SUVs with tinted windows is just
like driving around in a pack of tractor trailers---you just have to follow along and
hope they know what they're doing. ... Now they are too prevalent to avoid, and it
seems that more and more of the people with tinted windows are the same ones
who don't use turn signals and weave from lane to lane rapidly.
“Distracted drivers and those who don't use turn signals are often not all
that dangerous to be around if you can actually see them. If you can watch their
head movements and especially their eyes in their rear-view mirrors, you can get
a good idea of what they're doing, but when they (and the road ahead of them)
are hidden by window tinting, they become especially dangerous.” 3
Your best defense is to either pass a vehicle that you cannot see through or around, or
increase your following distance, which also increases your field of vision.
Blind Spots
Most big trucks and many other large vehicles have blind spots.
The driver can only see
whatever is in his field of vision
through the windshield and
rear-view mirrors.
Be aware of where your vehicle is relative to a truck’s blind spots, and either speed up or
slow down so that the truck driver can see you.
2
Tony Hartzel, “Driving away the distractionsy,” The Dallas Morning News, 10/24/04.
3
Greg Knight, “Road Safety in General,” comment on Regulations, Guidelines and Enforcement page of
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd13/driver-distraction/Topics173120609.htm (7/19/00).
Hazards While Driving on Company Business – 8/15/05
2
Driving At Night
Traffic death rates are three times higher at night than during the day, according to the
National Safety Council. Reduced ability to see well is a contributing factor, since darkness
limits what you can see and distinguish. Your depth perception and peripheral vision are also
adversely affected by darkness. Drowsiness and use of alcohol are other major factors. A driver
who falls asleep at the wheel or a drunk driver can lose control and cross into your path.
National Safety Council recommendations for nighttime driving include the following:
•
Clean headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) once a week,
more often if necessary.
•
Avoid smoking when you drive. Smoke's nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night
vision.
•
If there is any doubt, turn your headlights on. Lights will not help you see better in early
twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you.
•
Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. It is more difficult to judge
other vehicle's speeds and distances at night.
•
Don't overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If
you're not, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle.
•
If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching
the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
•
Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and
get some rest.
•
If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Turn on flashers and the
dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area. 4
Hazard Recognition Exercise
Look at each of the pictures and discuss potential hazards and discuss how they should
be corrected or controlled.
How can accidents be
prevented when parking in
congested areas?
How can you prevent
accidents on blind
turns and when there
is restricted visibility?
Can you think of any
particular places on
site where you have
noticed this problem?
4
National Safety Council, “Driving at Night,” 11/15/04, http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/nightdr.htm.
Hazards While Driving on Company Business – 8/15/05
3
What
precautions
should be
taken?
How do you avoid flying debris?
Projecting
Loads
What should you do if a truck in front
of you has an unsecured load?
What safety rules apply
to transportation of
hazardous materials?
What should
you do if any
tires go off the road
onto the shoulder?
How do you
counteract a skid?
What should you do if
your truck goes into a canal?
Summary
Vehicle accidents while driving on company business can be avoided by:
•
Paying more attention to your surroundings;
•
Eliminating or reducing distractions;
•
Maximizing your field of vision by increasing your following distance or passing;
•
Staying out of the blind spots of truck drivers;
•
Taking extra precautions at night to improve vision and to stay alert;
•
Recognizing potential hazards while driving and taking reasonable steps to avoid them.
_____________________
Article by Grace Gagnet, CSP, and illustrations by Michael R. Drennan, AFA Safety Services,
Inc., prepared on behalf of Administaff courtesy of AIG Consultants, Inc.
Hazards While Driving on Company Business – 8/15/05
4