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Safety & Compliance
> Is This Accident Preventable?
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The
heart of a safe driving program is the careful determination
of the preventability of each accident in which a driver
is involved. This must be done in the light of all the
facts pertinent to the accident's occurrence. Unearthing
of these facts is sometimes difficult in practice, but
it can be made easier by training drivers to report the
accidents in which they are involved completely and accurately.
Complete investigation by management is equally necessary.
The
first step in reviewing the accident is to determine
if the driver involved adhered to the Defensive Driving
Code. That is, did he/she "Drive in such a way
that he committed no errors himself, and so control
his vehicle as to make due allowance for conditions
of road, weather and traffic, and to assure that mistakes
of other drivers did not involve him in an accident?"
Despite
the fact each accident must be judged individually,
experience in fleet safety over the years has shown
that certain types are generally non-preventable on
the part of the professional truck driver. Certain others,
in absence of extenuating circumstances, could have
been prevented by defensive driving. The types of accidents
listed below cannot cover every accident which may occur
but they are intended to provide guidance in determining
the eligibility of drivers for safe driving awards.
NON-PREVENTABLE
ACCIDENTS
A.
Struck in Rear by Other Vehicle
Non-Preventable
if:
- Driver's
vehicle was legally and properly parked;
- Driver
was proceeding in her own lane of traffic at a safe
and lawful speed;
- Driver
was stopped in traffic due to existing conditions
or was stopped in compliance with traffic sign or
signal or the directions of a police officer or other
person legitimately controlling traffic;
- Driver
was in proper lane waiting to make turn.
B.
Struck While Parked
Non-Preventable
if:
- Driver
was properly parked in a location where parking was
permitted;
- Vehicle
was protected by emergency warning devices as required
by DOT and state regulations or if driver was in process
of setting out or retrieving signals. These provisions
shall apply to the use of turn signals as emergency
warning lights under DOT regulations.
PREVENTABLE
ACCIDENTS
A.
Accidents at Intersections
Preventable
if:
- Driver
failed to control speed so that he could stop within
available sight distance;
- Driver
failed to check cross-traffic and wait for it to clear
before entering intersection;
- Driver
pulled out from side street in the face of oncoming
traffic;
- Driver
collided with person, vehicle or object while making
right or left turn;
- Driver
collided with vehicle making turn in front of him.
B.
Striking Other Vehicle in Rear
Preventable
if:
- Driver
failed to maintain safe following distance and have
her vehicle under control;
- Driver
failed to keep track of traffic conditions and note
slowdown;
- Driver
failed to ascertain whether vehicle ahead was moving
slowly, stopped or slowing down for any reason;
- Driver
misjudged rate of overtaking;
- Driver
came too close before pulling out to pass;
- Driver
failed to wait for car ahead to move into the clear
before starting up;
- Driver
failed to leave sufficient room for passing vehicle
to get safely back in line.
C. Sideswipe and Head-On Collisions
Preventable
if:
- Driver
was not entirely in his proper lane of travel;
- Driver
did not pull to his right and slow down and stop for
vehicle encroaching on his lane of travel when such
action could have been taken without additional danger.
D.
Struck in Rear by Other Vehicle
Preventable
if:
- Driver
was passing slower traffic near an intersection and
had to make sudden stop;
- Driver
made sudden stop to park, load or unload;
- Vehicle
was improperly parked;
- Driver
rolled back into vehicle behind while starting on
grade.
E.
Squeeze Plays and Shutouts
Preventable
if:
- Driver
failed to yield right-of-way when necessary to avoid
an accident.
F.
Backing Accidents
Preventable
if:
- Driver
backed up when backing could have been avoided by
better planning of her route;
- Driver
backed into traffic stream when such backing could
have been avoided;
- Driver
failed to get out of cab and check proposed path of
backward travel;
- Driver
depended solely on mirrors when it was practicable
to look back;
- Driver
failed to get out of cab periodically and recheck
conditions when backing a long distance;
- Driver
failed to sound horn while backing;
- Driver
failed to check behind vehicle parked at curb before
attempting to leave parking space;
- Driver
relied solely on a guide to help him back;
- Driver
backed from blind side when he could have made a sight-side
approach.
G.
Accidents Involving Rail-Operated Vehicles
Preventable
if:
- Driver
attempted to cross tracks directly ahead of train
or streetcar;
- Driver
ran into side of train or streetcar;
- Driver
stopped or parked on or too close to tracks.
H.
Accidents While Passing
Preventable
if:
- Driver
passed where view of road ahead was obstructed by
hill, curve, vegetation, traffic, ad verse weather
conditions, etc.;
- Driver
attempted to pass in the face of closely approaching
traffic;
- Driver
failed to warn driver of vehicle being passed;
- Driver
failed to signal change of lanes;
- Driver
pulled out in front of other traffic overtaking from
rear;
- Driver
cut-in short returning to right lane.
I.
Accidents While Being Passed
Preventable
if:
- Driver
failed to stay in his own lane and hold speed or reduce
it to permit safe passing.
J.
Accidents While Entering Traffic Stream
Preventable
if:
- Driver
failed to signal when pulling out from curb;
- Driver
failed to check traffic before pulling out from curb;
- Driver
failed to look back to check traffic if he was in
position where mirrors did not show traffic conditions;
- Driver
attempted to pull out in a manner which forced other
vehicle(s) to change speed or direction;
- Driver
failed to make full stop before entering from side
street, alley or driveway;
- Driver
failed to make full stop before crossing sidewalk;
- Driver
failed to yield right-of-way to approaching traffic.
K.
Pedestrian Accidents
Preventable
if:
Driver
did not reduce speed in area of heavy pedestrian traffic;
Driver
was not prepared to stop;
Driver
failed to yield right-of-way to pedestrian.
L.
Mechanical Defects Accidents
Preventable
if:
- Defect
was of a type which driver should have detected in
making pre-trip or en route inspection of vehicle;
- Defect
was of a type which driver should have detected during
the normal operation of the vehicle;
- Defect
was caused by driver's abusive handling of the vehicle.
M.
All Types of Accidents
Preventable
if:
- Driver
was not operating at a speed consistent with the existing
conditions or road, weather and traffic;
- Driver
failed to control speed so that he could stop within
assured clear distance;
- Driver
misjudged available clearance;
- Driver
failed to yield right-of-way to avoid accident;
- Driver
failed to accurately observe existing conditions;
- Driver
was in violation of company operating rules or special
instruction, the regulations of any federal or state
regulatory agency, or any applicable traffic laws
or ordinances.
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Safety & Compliance