Defensive Driving Five Easy Ways to Lower Your Driving Risk
Five Easy Ways to Lower Your Driving Risk • Safety Belts • Avoid alcohol and other drugs • Use all your senses, not just vision • Be aware of your limitations • Learn to recognize and manageriskearly
Safety Belts • The safest place in your car during a crash is the seat you are already in. • Properly worn and fastened, safety belts are 45-50% effective in reducing the risk of a fatal crash. • Safety belts are 55-60% effective in reducing injuries in a nonfatal collision. • Air bags increase the effectiveness of safety belts by 10-15%.
Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Safety Belts
Estimated Number of Lives Saved by Child Restraints and Air Bags
Safety Belt Benefits • Prevents the “second” and “third” collision. • Prevents ejection from vehicle. • Prevents occupants from striking each other. • Provides “ride down” benefit. • Spreads crash force out. • Provides drivers with greater control in emergency situations.
Elements of a Traffic Accident • Driver – 90% • Examples???? • Vehicle – 5% • Examples???? • Roadway environment – 5% • Examples????
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs
% of Total Traffic Fatalities with Alcohol Present
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • The decision to drink alcohol is a personal decision; the decision to drink alcohol and operate a motor vehicle is the business of every responsible traffic citizen. • Most Americans who can legally consume alcohol, do. Unfortunately, more than 80% will admit to driving after drinking at some point.
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • America is a nation of drinkers and of drivers. • Over five billion gallons of liquor is consumed every year. • 185,500,000 licensed drivers (1998) • 215,400,000 registered vehicles (1998)
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • Even if you don’t drink, or if you don’t drink and drive, you are still a victim of this social problem: • 70 people die every day in alcohol-related crashes; about one every 20 minutes. • 50% of the people killed in alcohol-related crashes are not the drinking driver • Cost to society is in the Billion$ • .25% of every auto insurance dollar YOU pay goes for damages done by the drunk driver. • At the current rate, two out of every five Americans can expect to be involved in an alcohol-related crash in his/her lifetime.
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • There is a clear and direct relationship between alcohol impairment and motor vehicle crash responsibility. • .08% BAC is the current legal level of intoxication in Illinois, but driving impairment begins at a lower level. • Drinking any amount of alcohol impairs the ability to drive, though probability of a crash increases dramatically with rising BAC.
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • What is alcohol? • What is BAC? • How is BAC achieved?
Alcohol Impairment Chart • The following charts are intended only as guides. Your blood-alcohol level may be affected by your age, general physical condition, gender, amount of food consumed and any drugs and medications. • The shaded portions represent illegal intoxication for drivers in Illinois and Missouri.
Alcohol Impairment Chart • For the purposes of this guide, “one drink” is equal to 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of regular beer or 5 oz. of wine. • Note: Subtract 0.01 % for each 40 minutes elapsed since having a drink.
Men: Approximate blood-alcohol percentage (within one hour)
Women: Approximate blood-alcohol percentage (within one hour)
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • How is BAC measured? • The driving task is a complex skill involving a mixture of decision-making abilities, visual acuity, and psychomotor skills. How does BAC affect the driving task?
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • DUI provisions • Implied consent • Penalties • Visual cues to identify a drunk driver • What should you do if you suspect a driver is intoxicated?
Avoid Alcohol and Other Drugs • Solution to drinking/driving problem is multi-faceted: • Individual responsibility • Fair and consistent laws, enforcement and prosecution • Support efforts to reduce the problem
Motor Vehicle Death Rates by Day and Night
Motor Vehicle Deaths by Type of Accident
Motor Vehicle Deaths by Age
Use ALL Your Senses • Most of the information gathered while driving is visual, but research indicates that the most competent drivers do not rely solely on visual inputs. • Other senses: • Hearing • Smell • Feel • Common
S.I.P.D.E. Method • S – Search; sense; scan • I – Identify • P – Predict • D – Decide • E - Execute
Be Aware of YOUR Limitations • Immediate State • Temporary illness • Fatigue • Carbon monoxide poisoning
Be Aware of YOUR Limitations • Chronic conditions • Permanent disabilities • Depth perception • Night vision/night blindness • Color blindness
Learn to Recognize and Manage Risk Early • Adjust your driving pattern to the driving environment. • Watch your following distance! • Know what is around you at all times • Use the Smith System • Drive responsibly – Keep your welfare and the welfare of your passengers and other highway users in mind.
The “Smith System” of Perceptual Driving Habits • Aim High in Steering. • Get the big picture. • Keep your eyes moving. • Leave yourself an “out.” • Make sure YOU are seen.
Vehicle Safety Engineering • Crash avoidance • Crash worthiness • Passenger protection
Pedestrian Safety • Actions by motorists that endanger pedestrians. • Actions by pedestrians that endanger themselves.
Actions by Motorists that Endanger Pedestrians • Driving too fast for conditions. • Failing to yield to pedestrians in a midblock crosswalk. • Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other substances. • Obstructing view by parking too close to crosswalk.
Actions by Motorists that Endanger Pedestrians • Failing to stop before crossing sidewalk. • Passing a stopped vehicle that blocks the view of pedestrians. • Failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Actions by Pedestrians that Endanger Themselves • Walking while intoxicated. • Crossing between parked cars. • Crossing against a signal. • Crossing between intersections.
Actions by Pedestrians that Endanger Themselves • Failing to watch traffic. • Playing in the street. • Walking diagonally across an intersection. • Walking in the street when sidewalks are provided.
