Defensive Driving



                       A SAFETY TALK FOR

                      DISCUSSION LEADERS



This safety talk is designed for discussion leaders to use in preparing safety

meetings.



Set a specific time and date for your safety meeting.  Publicize your meeting

so everyone involved will be sure to attend.



Review this safety talk before the meeting and become familiar with its

content. Make notes about the points made in this talk that pertain to your

workplace.  You should be able to present the material in your own words and

lead the discussion without reading it.



Seating space is not absolutely necessary, but arrangements should be made so

that those attending can easily see and hear the presentation.



Collect whatever materials and props you will need ahead of time.  Try to use

equipment in your workplace to demonstrate your points.





                      DURING THE MEETING



Give the safety talk in your own words.  Use the printed talk merely as a

guide.



The purpose of a safety meeting is to initiate discussion of safety problems

and provide solutions to those problems.  Encourage employees to discuss

hazards or potential hazards the encounter on the job. Ask them to suggest ways

to improve safety in their area.



Don't let the meeting turn into a gripe session about unrelated topics.  As

discussion leader, its your job to make sure the topic is safety.  Discussing

other topics wastes time and can ruin the effectiveness of your safety meeting.



At the end of the meeting, ask employees to sign a sheet on the back of this

talk as a record that they attended the safety meeting.  Keep this talk on file

for your records.





Defensive Driving

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When you're at the controls of any vehicle, it is important to remember that

defensive driving is a full-time job. The most dangerous mile you have to drive

is the one directly ahead of you. Anyone can drive perfectly for 10 feet or 100

feet or even one mile, but it takes a real professional to drive perfectly for

100,000 miles or more. To be a professional driver there are many things you

must observe and practice.



A safe driver is not merely someone who has been lucky enough to avoid

accidents, but is one who drives defensively and looks out for others. But

today's driving standards demand more skill, knowledge and decision-making

ability.



Drivers who are safety-conscious have developed good habits and practice them

daily. Every time they get behind the wheel, their driving record is on the

line. They must drive like a professional and be prepared mentally and

physically.



If you are a driver who has a safe attitude about your driving, you will be

able to drive with a sense of security in inclement weather, on difficult roads

and through heavy traffic.



In addition, to be a good driver you should respect all traffic laws and be

courteous to others. Don't be in a big hurry--you're just asking for trouble.

When bad weather affects driving conditions, you must adjust your driving time

and habits. Driving on wet or slippery roads is not the same as driving on dry

surfaces. The number of traffic accidents and cars running off the road during

rainy weather could be reduced if drivers would anticipate the slippery road

conditions and adjust their driving habits.



Stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you--one vehicle length for

each 10 mph. Start stopping sooner. Apply your brakes the instant you see a

hazard developing, but apply them gradually so you don't go into a spin or

grind to a stop so quickly that you risk a rear-end collision.



Defensive driving is driving to prevent accidents, in spite of the incorrect

actions of others or adverse weather conditions. ANTICIPATE driving hazards and

know how to protect yourself from them. Be alert while driving by keeping your

mind free of distractions and your attention focused on driving; alertness

involves watching and recognizing accident-causing factors instantly. The

professional driver has foresight, the ability to size up traffic situations as

far ahead as possible. The driver must ANTICIPATE traffic problems that are

likely to develop and decide whether these developments could be dangerous.



Many drivers fail to understand why they were given a "preventable" for an

accident when they were not legally at fault. A "preventable accident" is one

in which you fail to do everything you reasonably could have done to prevent

it. Even though the driver cited with a "preventable accident" did not violate

any traffic laws, the professional driver should have seen or anticipated the

incorrect actions of the other driver in time to take actions to prevent the

accident from happening. However, you may also learn the valuable lessons that

near-misses offer and make the necessary adjustments in your driving habits.



As a defensive driver you must operate your vehicle in a manner to avoid

contributing to an accident or being involved in a preventable accident.



Awareness of the vehicle's limitations is essential; pre-trip checklists and

inspections can familiarize you with the vehicle and point out things that

might need attention.



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Text Version