Welcome To

“Defensive Driving
For the Commercial
Driver”

Heritage Group Safety

Financial Impact of
Accidents
 Company

 Driver

 Publicity
 Content of Session

 Reasons &  Collision with

Causes of Oncoming
Accidents Vehicle
 Driving To Stay  Intersections
Alive
 Passing &
 The Practice of
Defensive
Being Passed
Driving  “Mystery” -
 Avoiding Fixed Object
Collisions with Collision
Vehicle Ahead  Backing of
(Rear-end Large Vehicles
Collision)
 The Deadly U-Turn

 Risks

 Company
Policy

 Who’s at Fault
 Reasons / Causes of
Collisions
 Alertness  Improper
 Vehicle Backing
Condition  Right Turns
 Attitude  Blind Spots
 Speed  Clearances
 Tailgating  Drugs /
 Improper Lane Alcohol
Changes  Seatbelts
 Road
Conditions
“Driving to Stay Alive”
 Three “E’s” to Traffic Safety
 Enforcement
 Education
 Engineering
 Preventable Accident Definition

 Five Driving Errors To Avoid

 Collisions
 Traffic Violations
 Vehicle Abuse
 Discourtesy
 Schedule Delays
 The Practice of
Defensive Driving
 Improving your ability to
avoid collisions:
– Knowledge Foresight
– Alertness Skill

 STANDARD ACCIDENT
PREVENTION FORMULA
– Recognize the Hazard
– Understand the Defense
– Act
 Six Conditions
Present In Every
Driving Situation
 Lighting
– Night, Dawn, Dusk, Sun-glare
 Road Conditions
 Weather
– Rain, snow, sleet, fog, etc.
Hydroplaning
 Traffic
– Time of Day
 Vehicle Condition
– Inspection - Maintenance
 Condition of the Driver
– Age, alcohol / drugs, fatigue,
emotions, attitude
 *Most Collisions are caused by Driver Error!

Avoiding Collisions
With the Vehicle
Ahead
 Usual Cause of Rear-End
Collisions:

 Following Too Close

 Stopping Distances

– 55 mph = 335’
– 60 mph = 426’

 USE THE 4 SECOND

MINIMUM RULE
Avoiding Collisions
With the Vehicle
Behind
 Slow Down
Gradually

 Touch the
Brake Pedal

 Use Turn
Signals

Watch Your Blind Spot!

Lane Changing &

the Right of Way
 Avoiding Collisions
With Oncoming
Vehicles
The Deadliest Of All Collisions
Why Do They Occur?

Four “R’s” of Head-On Prevention

• Read the Road Ahead

•Ride to the Right
•Reduce Speed
•Ride Right off the Road

Don’t Panic * Wear Seatbelts

 Avoiding Intersection
Collisions
 Who has the Right of Way?
 Lighted / controlled
intersections
 Left turns - right turns
 Approaching intersections
 Bicycles, Pedestrians,
School Buses
 R/R crossings
 The Art of Passing and Being
Passed

Being Passed: Making a Pass

1. Courtesy 1. Maintain Proper

2. Types of Collisions following distance
3. Preventing Accidents 2. Starting the Pass
while being passed 3. Completing the Pass
•Yield Right of Way
•Remain in slower
traffic (right lane)
•Stay with the flow
The “Mystery” of Fixed
Object Collisions
 Why the
Mystery?

 Vehicle
Condition

 Fatigue

 Drugs / Alcohol

 Other Driver
Conditions
 Backing of Large
Vehicles
 Get Out and  Blind Backing
Get the - Use Driver
Picture Side

 Back Short  Back Slowly

Distances

 Learn the  Use Reliable

Territory Guide