Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 122 | TAILGATE TALK Using the Smith 5 Keys to Avoid Crashes Driving to and from jobsites is a part of every work day. In 2014, over 32,675 people were killed in crashes that occurred on roadways, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of those 32,675, 10% were caused by distracted driving, 2.6% were caused by a drowsy driver, and 28% were caused by speeding. Flagger Force continually invests in new, quality vehicles to maintain our professional capability and image. We expect our employees to manage these vehicles accordingly. We empower employees with professional training like the Smith Driving System to teach them to be responsible and safe while operating our fleet vehicles such as the F-150 trucks. The Smith Driving System is designed to teach techniques to prevent collisions on roadways. Using the Smith Driving System 5 Keys to Safety, as presented in the Flagger Force Academy Driver 101 course, will reduce the risk of becoming another statistic. T A I L G A T E T A L K 1 2 3 4 5 GET THE BIG PICTURE Scott Richwine, Harrisburg, Safety Advocate: “I remember an incident that took place within one of our work zones. I was at a jobsite when a tractor-trailer driver definitely did not have the big picture. He was focused on turning into a gas station & convenience store around lunch time. The truck driver, probably focused on getting a sandwich or something, began his turn without checking to see if the adjacent lane was clear. In fact there was a small car in that lane and he ended up driving his truck over the hood of the card crushing its front end. He clearly lost the big picture and by focusing on lunch rather than driver safety.” • While scanning, do not forget the sides and rear. • Check at least one of your mirrors every 5-8 seconds. • Do not focus attention on insignificant objects. • Stay alert to the relevant information that can assist you in making well-informed decisions. • Stay far enough behind other vehicles to obtain the visibility necessary to make your own decisions. KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING Justin Gould, Pittsburgh, Crew Leader: “A few days ago I was traveling on a 55mph roadway through Knox, PA. I was driving among wooded hills with plenty of wildlife so I was scanning the road carefully. Suddenly, a large coyote leaped out of the trees about 40 yards in front of me – I had a few seconds to react and avoided a collision.” • Scan all intersections before entering them. • Keep your eyes moving every 2 seconds • Avoid distractions in your vehicles and your thinking. LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT Raymond Rinehart, Sr., Baltimore, Advanced Crew Leader: “I was driving home with my partner up Interstate 70 which is a hill. I was in the middle lane of the three lane roadway and saw a black vehicle pass me on the right, he was going way over the 65 mile an hour posted speed. I guess the young guy wasn’t paying attention to the truck in front of me and when he realized that truck was there, he lost control and hit the guardrail on the right side of his vehicle and bounced back into the roadway. I saw him coming and was able to slow down, but a collision was inevitable. It could have been so much worse if I didn’t leave myself the distance to react.” • The safest position in traffic is with few or no vehicles around you. • Choose the proper lane and adjust speed accordingly to maintain your space cushion. • If you lose part of the cushion, work to keep at least the front and one side open. • Avoid tailgaters. MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU Matt Craley, Quality Manager: “You may have noticed that because of “smart phones” pedestrians are not always paying close attention to traffic these days. A few weeks ago I was traveling through a town and a pedestrian, with eyes buried in his phone, strode out into the road. I immediately slowed down and hit my horn. He jolted up and saw my vehicle approaching then shot back to the sidewalk. I was paying attention and made sure that guy noticed me, well before I needed to take any further action.” • Detect the presence of potential danger early. • Send your warning signals as soon as you think they will be recognized. • Seek eye contact by using the warning devices on your vehicle. • Eye contact is valuable, but it is no guarantee against the unexpected. 15 SECONDS AHEAD BLIND AREA BLIND AREA REARVIEW AREA FORWARD VISION RIGHT SIDE MIRROR LEFT SIDE MIRROR TAILGATE TALK | 3 AIM HIGH IN STEERING Elizabeth Williams, Richmond, Advanced Crew Leader : “I was traveling up a hill and looking ahead down the road. If my eyes had not been up and focus out in front I would not have seen the top of another card approaching from the opposite side of the hill. That car had drifted into my lane and I only had a couple of seconds to pull onto the sidewalk to avoid a collision.” • Look ahead to where you will be at least 15 seconds into your future. • A 15 second eye lead time provides advance warning and gives you an additional margin of safety. • Use improved eye lead time for more efficient and economical driving. PEDESTRIANS BREAKING TURNING