AgSafe (California)
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The following safety module
is intended to be used as a refresher safety awareness session and is in no way
to be used as a substitute for job training nor proper equipment use.
Defensive driving means
that you not only pay attention to your driving, but to the other person on the
road, too. A defensive driver is prepared for the unexpected during bad weather,
night hours and heavy traffic, as well as in light traffic.
The safety modules
may be used by anyone with the understanding that credit be given to AgSafe.
Drinking alcoholic beverages diminishes your brain's ability to make accurate
judgments. So, if you have been drinking, either designate a driver who hasn't
been drinking or call a cab or friend to drive you. Each year, 23,000 people are
killed due to drunk drivers, and almost twice that number are injured. You can
avoid becoming a statistic by not taking chances. (See Figure
1.) Many people believe that drinking coffee will "sober them up" enough to
drive, but this simply isn't true. Coffee can not alter nor erase the chemical
effects that alcohol has on your body. The best thing you can do if you've had
too much to drink is to rest. Generally, two and one half hours of rest for every
drink is a good rule to follow.
The first action you can take as a defensive driver is to make sure your car is
in good running condition. Each time you have oil changes, tune-ups or other type
of work on your car, record the date in a notebook and keep the car's maintenance
on a regular schedule. (See Figure 2.) Make sure tire
tread is above the wear bars. Worn tires can blow out, skid and cause accidents.
Check break lights and turn signals regularly to make sure they are operating
correctly.
By driving the legal speed limit and by keeping one car length between you and
the car in front of you for every 10 miles per hour you are traveling (e.g., four
car lengths at forty miles per hour), you can help minimize the risk of a collision.
To avoid being hit head-on, look ahead for potential problems and slow down or
get off the road in advance if you suspect a problem ahead. To avoid being hit
from the rear, use your turn indicator and slow down gradually. Tap your brake
lights a couple of times to warn the driver behind you that you are reducing your
speed. (See Figure 3.) Be sure to leave enough space
between you and the car in front of you as you slow down in case the driver behind
you runs into you.
Over 2/3 of all traffic injuries occur at intersections, so be prepared when you
approach one. Always use your turn signal if you plan to make a turn, and assume
the other drivers don't see your signal. Proceed cautiously. Don't assume other
drivers will give you the right-of-way. (See Figure 4.)
Many cold remedies cause drowsiness. Driving when you are tired increases the
potential for injuries. If you are tired, do not drive. Pull off the road at a
safety rest area and sleep until you are rested and alert enough to continue.
(See Figure 5.)
Over and over, seat belts have proven to save lives. You can increase your chance
for survival in an accident if you get into the habit of wearing your seat belt.
There are those who think that a seat belt will "trap" them in the vehicle in
case of an accident, but many people survive the initial impact and are able to
escape, while those who have elected not to wear their seat belts have died from
being thrown from the car. If you have a lap belt and a shoulder belt, it's highly
recommended that you wear both. (See Figure 6.) A shoulder
belt should not be worn alone.
By law, children under four years old must be belted into specially designed car
seats (see Figure 7) and not permitted to stand up and
move around while the vehicle is moving. Infants should never be held in an adult's
lap. The force of impact during an accident increases the infant's weight 12 times,
making it impossible for the adult to hold onto the child.
A defensive driver will yield as often as possible to other drivers who are determined
to go first. If you approach an intersection at the same time as another vehicle,
allow the other driver to proceed first unless he or she signals to you otherwise.
(See Figure 8.) A little patience can save time and
injury.
Working around large machinery is often noisy, so every agricultural
driver should know the proper use of hand signals. (See Figure
9.) Hand communication is successfully used in the military,
by construction companies and on the farm/ranch to communicate
between workers. The American Society for Agricultural Engineers
(ASAE) has adopted the most commonly used signals to be used
by all agricultural workers. Ask your supervisor for a copy
of these hand signals
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
publication is compiled from various reference sources and
is designed to provide current and authoritative information
on the subject matter covered. It is provided with the understanding
that the publishers are not engaged in rendering medical,
legal, accounting or other professional service. AgSafe, the
Safety Center, Inc., and FELS believe the information provided
to be correct, but assume no liability for consequential or
other damages attendant to the use of this material. In no
event shall the liability of AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc.,
or FELS for any claim, however designated, exceed the purchase
price, if any, for this publication. No claim may be maintained
against AgSafe, the Safety Center, Inc., or FELS in any tribunal
unless written notice of the claim is delivered to the applicable
entity within 30 days of its discovery. Information about
the Agsafe Project can be obtained by writing to Agsafe, 140
Warren Hall, University of California, Berkeley,
CA 94720
.
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