Tag: driving

ISN Speaks

Driving Safety Tips for the Holidays

December 13th, 2012 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , ,

christmas-shoppingNearly 91 percent of holiday travel in the United States takes place in motor vehicles each year. With more holidays yet to come, it’s important to be aware of the necessary measures to improve driving safety this holiday season.

Below are some best practices to promote driving safety.

1.  Check Your Vehicle Before Going Out of Town
Performing your own vehicle inspection can ensure safe travel while traveling long distances.
Vehicle Inspection Checklist:
    • Check all tires, including the spare tire, for proper inflation and tread wear
    • Ensure that the brakes and brake lights are functioning properly
    • Replace worn windshield wipers
    • Test headlights and turn signals to ensure that all bulbs are working as intended
    • Measure oil and fluid levels within the vehicle
    • Ensure the vehicle has enough gas to make it to the next designated location
    • Check belts and hoses for any visible cracks or bulges
      *If these are four years old or older, the National Safety Council suggests taking your
       car to a certified technician to evaluate safe operation.

2.  Avoid Driving While Distracted
Statistics from 2010 indicate that 18 percent of crashes were as a result of distracted drivers. Distractions can include the use of mobile devices, talking, and eating and/or drinking while driving. Being cognizant of potential distractions can promote awareness and reduce exposure while driving.

3. Use Caution While Driving at Night
Administering necessary maintenance on your vehicle can promote safety while driving at night. This includes, but is not limited to, checking the functionality and alignment of both the headlights and brake lights on the vehicle. Proper headlight and brake light functionality promotes not only your ability to see while driving, but also helps other drivers to see you.

Additionally, it is recommended that drivers reduce speed and following distance as human eyes adjust differently at night than during the day. Driving at night adversely affects our depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision.

The ISN Team hopes that these driving best practices will help keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday season.

Resources:
http://www.bts.gov/publications/america_on_the_go/us_holiday_travel/html/entire.html
http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/Pre-Trip_Inspection.pdf
http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/Driving_at_Night.pdf
http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/facts-and-statistics.html

ISN Speaks

Distracted Driving: A Risk Not Worth Taking

February 16th, 2012 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , , , ,

Current research reveals the legitimate danger of distracted driving. Distracted driving can include: dialing a cell phone, texting, reading, applying make-up, eating, reaching for a moving object or looking outside of the vehicle. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 6,000 people in the United States were killed last year, and more than 500,000 were injured due to distracted driving. Factor in bad weather, road construction, work stress and traffic into the equation, and distracted driving becomes a recipe for disaster.

According to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, if a driver sends a text message while driving, he or she is 23 times more likely to get into a collision. At highway speeds, just five seconds spent looking at a texting device equals 100 or more yards traveled without paying attention. CNBC and Car and Driver Magazine indicate texting and driving can be worse than drunk driving, reporting that an unimpaired driver takes .54 seconds to brake while a driver reading an email or sending a text message could take up to an additional 70 feet to brake.  

Here are a few tips on remaining an undistracted driver:

  • Make and finish phone calls before you drive away
  • If your phone rings while driving, allow your voicemail to pick up the call
  • If you must answer your phone, pull over to a safe location to complete the call
  • Never text and drive
  • Give yourself time to eat, drink and rest prior to driving
  • Allow sufficient time to reach your location
  • Ensure all passengers are buckled-up properly
  • Adjust vehicle controls prior to driving away (navigation systems, climate control, radio/mp3 device, seat)
  • Lead by example: teach children how important it is to be focused while driving, and provide them with distractions like books or games
  • Properly secure a pet in a moving vehicle, and never allow them to sit in your lap while driving

While driving, it is important to remember the following:

  • Stay focused
  • Pay attention
  • Expect the unexpected

Remember, safe driving protects you and others on the road. Keep your mind on your driving, your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.

Resources:
http://www.nationwide.com/employee-driving-while-distracted.jsp
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl28.htm
http://hr.cch.com/hhrlib/issues-answers/Should-your-company-prohibit-texting-while-driving.asp?date=December-5-2011 
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31545004/Texting_And_Driving_Worse_Than_Drinking_and_Driving

ISN Speaks

Texting while Driving: A Safety Roadblock

April 14th, 2011 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Distracted driving has become a reality for countless drivers and is a major contributor to driving-related accidents. Cell phone use while driving has become status quo in a society where constant communication is not only available, but also expected.  Between making calls, answering calls and texting others, inattention to the road can be disastrous and deadly. 

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), texting while driving has claimed more than 16,000 lives from 2001 to 2007. As a result, OSHA is pushing companies to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and implement driving safety best practices to help prevent work-related driving accidents.

David Michael, Assistant Secretary, OSHA, stated, “It is well recognized that texting while driving dramatically increases the risk of a motor vehicle injury or fatality. We are asking employers to send a clear message to workers and supervisors that your company neither requires nor condones texting while driving.”

OSHA is working with companies to incorporate “text-free zones” and establish defined procedures for safe communications. Additionally, OSHA is encouraging companies to remove incentive systems that spur drivers to text while driving.

Major players in many capital-intensive industries are increasingly requiring transportation contractors to submit written “Driving Safety” safety programs. These programs address driving safety best practices and often require the prohibition of cell phone use while driving. The initiative taken by OSHA and corporations alike sheds light on the dangers of distracted driving and provides steps to help alleviate this growing problem.

Working together to implement best practices, OSHA, industry stakeholders and other proponents of safe driving can pave a safer road for drivers. 

On April 18th, OSHA, Johns Hopkins University, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of Transportation will host the Symposium on Prevention of Occupationally-Related Distracted Driving. For more information on the conference, as well as additional resources, please visit OSHA’s Distracted Driving page.

Sources:
http://www.osha.gov/distracted-driving/index.html
http://www.jhsph.edu/erc/distracted-driving.html
http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3416distracted-driving-flyer.pdf