20090615 driving safety cant

A-ECA/T Regional Operations

SafetySafetyourour Top PriorityTop Priority

Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving

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A-ECA/T - Regional Operations / M. Ohta

What is Defensive Driving? What is Defensive Driving?

Defensive driving is a way of drivinga way of driving your car that helps you avoid avoid collisions and accidentscollisions and accidents regardless of the conditions and/or the actions of drivers around you.

Defensive driving goes beyond the laws of the road: it covers the laws of physics as they apply to moving vehicles, analyzes driving choices and the consequences.

The term was taken from the National Safety Council's driving course, launched in 1964, that was based on information from professional drivers.

Defensive driving can Defensive driving can make you a better make you a better driver. driver.

It focuses on good It focuses on good daily driving habits. daily driving habits.

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How to be a Safe Defensive Driver How to be a Safe Defensive Driver

It's a tactica tactic to protect drivers themselves, their passengers, and others on the road as well.

Driving defensively means to anticipate the anticipate the actionsactions and decisions of those around you before an accident occurs.

Being a safe, defensive driver can not only save save YOUR LIFEYOUR LIFE but also the lives of those you love as well.

Read on following simple tips and hints on how you Read on following simple tips and hints on how you can become a safer and more defensive driver and can become a safer and more defensive driver and take better control over your vehicular destiny!take better control over your vehicular destiny!

Defensive driving is all about observationDefensive driving is all about observation

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How to be a Safe Defensive DriverHow to be a Safe Defensive Driver

Open your eyes for observing surroundings!Open your eyes for observing surroundings! To become a safe defensive driver is to open your eyes and be awareopen your eyes and be aware. Scan intersectionsScan intersections (in every direction) before crossing through traffic lights

or stop signs; even if you have the right of way! Be aware of small animals or children playing in yards or on sidewalkschildren playing in yards or on sidewalks as

you pass by; they may suddenly decide to chase the ball out into the road! Think ahead. Although you can never know what other drivers are thinking

or what they will do, try to anticipate their next moves.try to anticipate their next moves. Keeping your eyes open and being prepared to reactbeing prepared to react to any possible driving

mistakes is an important rule of defensive driving. Watch the traffic both far and nearfar and near as well as to the left and the rightthe left and the right of you.

Advise 1Advise 1

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Never, ever speedNever, ever speed!! Drive the speed limit!Drive the speed limit! to avoid fatalities in an accident. Driving too fast puts you in a dangerous situation. It cuts your reaction time and it increases the momentum of your vehicle,

making it even more dangerous in a collision. Leave your house / workplace in due time, to avoid to be under pressure

underway! TTunnel unnel VVision ision EEffectffect:: At 40 km/h, the field of vision is

reduced to about 100°, at 100 km/h it is about 50° and at 130 km/h: 30°!

Advise 2Advise 2 50

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Respect the distance between vehicles!Respect the distance between vehicles! Don't tailgateDon't tailgate other cars--and be aware of cars that are tailgating you. Tail gaiters are usually easily frustrated, easily angered and are often

pushy...if you have a driver that is on your bumper, don't give in to temptation and 'tap your brakes' to get them off your tail.

Keep a safe distanceKeep a safe distance with other cars. If they suddenly crash, you need to be able to stop your vehicle before hitting them.

Good defensive drivers follow cars at a pace of 3follow cars at a pace of 3 secondsseconds or more. Keeping a minimum of three seconds of following distance with a car in front of you creates time and space for you to react to unexpected situations.

Check your blind spotsCheck your blind spots. To drive safely, try to stay out of other drivers' blind spots too.

Make sure you can see at all times and that you are seen by othersyou are seen by others. Look often in your rear and side mirrors.

Advise 3Advise 3

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Stay to the right!Stay to the right! When driving on the freeway/highways, drive in the proper lanedrive in the proper lane of traffic. On a highway, the left lane is for passing traffic or fast moving lanes of

traffic only. If you are being a safe defensive driver and maintaining an even speed,

try to drive in the right lane of traffic only unless you need to pass a slower vehicle.

"Left Lane Drivers' tend to frustrate and anger other drivers who drive at accelerated speeds or who pass other cars frequently.

Use your turn signalsUse your turn signals. They are an important tool for the defensive driver and were made to let other drivers know your intentions.

Advise 4Advise 4

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Don't give in to distractions while driving.Don't give in to distractions while driving. When you're at the wheel, focus only on drivingfocus only on driving. AVOID DISTRACTIONS!AVOID DISTRACTIONS! Cell phones, i-Pods, DVD players, radios, children,

pets, GPS devices and laptops should not be used, manipulated, entertained, or answered while you are driving a car.

Texting, reading, smoking, eating, putting on makeup, changing shoes, or digging through a purse or briefcase are all distracting activities that a safe defensive driver should not engage in while driving a vehicle.

Advise 5Advise 5

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Keep your vehicle(bike) well maintainedKeep your vehicle(bike) well maintained The vehicle vehicle must bemust be in good condition in good condition and regularly checked Make it sure that your turn signals, brake lights and horn are working, as

this is how you communicate with other cars when you're on the road. Check your tires and perform all other maintenance.

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Tires?

Pressure? Damage?Tread?

Brakes?

Oil leak? Seatbelts? Battery? Wipers? Lights?Turning signals?

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Being YOURSELF in good condition!Being YOURSELF in good condition! Feel fit take care of your health Have regularly an eye-checkeye-check Consider possible side effects of medicinesside effects of medicines

thereby, plan alternative possibilities for the commuting distance (e.g.: public transport, carpool)

Never, ever drink and driveNever, ever drink and drive. Nearly half of all fatal motor vehicle accidents involve alcohol.

Make regular rest stopsMake regular rest stops on long trips even when you are not tired. You should stop driving when you are tired or sleepy. A good defense requires you to be alert and ready at all times.

Advise 7Advise 7

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Back-up

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… about tyres: If tyre pressure is too low, the following may occur:• reduced contact area;• increased risk of skidding;• excessive heating;• risk of tyre bursting;• higher fuel consumption;• increased wear;• greater braking

If tyre pressure is too high, the following may occur:• reduced contact area;• increased risk of skidding;• uneven wear; • greater braking distance;• shock absorbers are less effective.

Tyres may be damaged by:• striking the pavement from the side;• setting off at top speed;• driving over objects (stones, branches …);• taking bends at high speed;• incorrect tyre pressure (too low – too high);• contact with chemical products (petrol, oil, soap…);

•To ensure maximum safety, the 4 wheels should preferably all be fitted similar (type: summer / winter, brand, tread design, dimensions). Certain tyres are unidirectional. When changing the wheels, it is recommended to check that they are mounted in the correct position.

• Check the pressure of the tyres regularly from cold (at least once a month). (Don’t forget to check the pressure of the spare tyre as well).

• Tyre treads: By law, tyres must have a tread of at least 1.6 mm. Special markers identify the point at which the tread depth reachesthe legal minimum of 1.6 mm.

• Age of the tyres: The rubber of the tyres hardens over time and affects the gripping ability of the tyre. Never use tyres which are above 6 years old. The quality of the tyre deteriorates even ifthe tyre is not in use.

• If a tear or bulge appears on the tyre wall, replace it immediately.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Reifen_Felge_Alu.jpg

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• The tunnel vision effect appears for instance, at high speed on the motorway: The driver sees as if looking through a tube, his normal field of vision of 180° narrows. The faster one drives,the stronger the view is concentrated ahead: events occuring on right or left side are hardly apprehended.At 40 km/h, the field of vision is reduced to about 100°, at 100 km/h it is about 50° and at 130 km/h: 30°!

• Information : The brain analyses and give the command to the nervous system: Transmission to the muscles The reaction time is the time running between perception of the information and reaction of the muscles (normal reaction time: about 1 s).During the reaction time the vehicle keeps on traveling with the same speed on a distance of:

Distance of reaction = ( ) x 3 Example: At 50 km/h the distance of reaction is (50/10)x 3 = 15 m 10

• The braking time is the time running between the moment when braking begins and the moment when the vehicle actually stops.Within the braking time the vehicle travels a distance of:

Braking distance = ( ) x ( ) / 2 Example: At 50 km/h the braking distance is: under optimal 10 10 (50/10) x (50/10) / 2 = 12,5 mconditions At 100 km/h: 50 m

STOPPING DISTANCE = DISTANCE OF REACTION + BRAKING DISTANCE !

speed

speedspeed

… about speed:

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STOPPING DISTANCE = DISTANCE OF REACTION + BRAKING DISTANCE !

50 km/h

100 km/h

Distance of ReactionDistance of Reaction Braking DistanceBraking Distance

15m

30m

12.5m

50m

27.5m

80m

Distance of ReactionDistance of Reaction

Braking DistanceBraking Distance Stopping Stopping DistanceDistance

Stopping Stopping DistanceDistance

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Useful Link

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/DefensiveDriving/Drive-Safe-With-Uncle-Bob.htm

The more useful tips for becoming the better defensive drivers;

http://cww-new.coatings.basf.org/en_UK/global/safety1/safety2/safety3/bestpractices/data_08/kalender_01.xml

EC Safety Calendar Presentation;

20090615 driving safety cant

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