one hazard associated with driving downhill is:
Use your brakes with caution, in a gentle and controlled manner, to avoid sliding on a slippery road. A fleet safety solution that gets results. Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts. Opening the boot. James Solomon has been a defensive driving expert with the National Safety Council for 34 years. Head on collisions happen for a multitude of reasons from distracted driving to drunk driving to fatigued driving and more. This feature works with your vehicles existing braking systems to block you from going past a certain speed while traveling downhill or on unsteady terrain. Instead, ease off the gas pedal until you can feel your tires regain connection with the road. Your vehicle's engine may get overheated when driving on a steep incline for an extended time. Also, you should be able to maintain a safe speed on winding mountain roads. Pedestrians on both sides. Speed: your speed should not be too fast for road and weather conditions. You can estimate depth by sticking a penny upside-down in the tread: If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, it's time for new tires. Get ready for the permit test with DriversEd.com. Coming downhill. When you see those signs, it wasnt because the state or county had some extra money and thought theyd go put them up, Solomon says. You can get the details on FederalRegister.gov .) Drivers moving through a roadway work zone will come across unexpected road signs, signals and traffic control measures. List factors to be considered in assessing risks for the driver, journey and the vehicle? Even if you manage to avoid hitting one, a yearling could be nearby, ready to do serious damage in a collision. No vehicles approaching. Be sure to put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers and recovery vehicles to your presence. Many parked cars, looking through the corner. Looking through the corner. Car entering on the left. To correct this type of skid, you must remove your foot from the brake pedal. Watch where that car goes. Again many cars parked. Green light ahead. It is not only shared between the driver and the company, but with everyone else on the road. Traffic islands, traffic lights, pedestrian on the footpath up ahead. Every risk you face during wet and rainy weather can be diminished by reducing your speed; this should be the first action you take. Could it have been avoided with better driver coaching? Helps keep you at a steady speed when driving down a hill or other decline. I-15 between Las Vegas, NV and Salt Lake City, NV The posted speed limit is 70 mph, which may be too fast. Look through the corner. Workman at the back of a vehicle. A blown front right tire will cause the vehicle to drift left, for example. When driving through smoke you must be aware of additional dangers. If it sounds like there might be inclement weather the next day, Solomon tells Mental Floss, set your alarm an hour early. Checking for pedestrians on the footpath. Do not shift into neutral. Many large vehicles on our left. Take our basic traffic school course to keep your record clear. Vehicles approaching. It is essential to reduce your speed and drive within the reach of your headlights, otherwise you will not have time to react to hazards as they enter your field of vision. pushed backwards. Car may turn, car is crossing our path. One hazard associated with driving downhill is: A.) Looking over the crest of the hill. What are the 5 key steps that should be followed in assessing the risks in driving? If you are going too fast, it is often too late to downshift. This hazard occurs when your car hits a pool of water fast enough to glide across its surface. This is a steep grade mountain coming down into Denver on I-70. Braking may be your first instinct when your vehicle begins to skid, though steering is the most effective way to correct traction. Traffic lights up ahead. Preserve your car's brakes. Other vehicles entering on our right. Docks & Ramps. In this case, responsibility falls strictly on you to avoid an accident. Vehicle indicating through the intersection may pull out. But never, ever park under an overpass. Oversteering often happens when the driver takes a bend or lane-change too quickly, when the surface of the road is slippery. Car pulling out in front of us, yes it does. During a blizzard, heavy snowfall may obscure your view of the road ahead and road markings, making it difficult to position your vehicle on the road. If you continue to use the brakes like this, they will fade until you cannot slow down or stop at all. Use the following tips to help you: If necessary, clear space around your tires. Other road hazards like fog, deer, and road-hogging commercial trucks never seem to take a break. This presents a risk of falling from height.Securing loadsUnrestrained loads can increase the risk of vehicle rollover and load spillage, and risk the life of the driver and other road users. Black ice is especially dangerous, as it is difficult to spot. Going over the crest of a hill. You must drive slowly enough so that your brakes can hold you back without getting too hot. Keep your gas tank at least half-full as fuel may freeze in extremely low temperatures. Entering intersection, through green light. Vehicle is pulling out. If a collision cannot be avoided, you must know how to minimize the impact of the crash to protect yourself and other drivers. Motive serves more than 120,000 businesses, across a wide range of industries including trucking and logistics, construction, oil and gas, food and beverage, field service, agriculture, passenger transit, and delivery. Vehicle suddenly approaching on the left, wants to come across. Vision's obscured. Clear the snow away from the wheels and try moving forward or in reverse. The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) 20102022, Use tab and cursor keys to move around the page (more information), Identifying hazards when driving through business areas, Identifying hazards when driving through roadworks, Identifying hazards when driving through school zones, Identifying hazards when sharing the road with other road users, Identifying hazards when driving through suburban streets, Identifying hazards when driving as night is approaching, vehicle merging into your lane or stopping suddenly in front of you. What to Do: First, dont assume your brake lights are still working. Fit your car with snow tires if you are likely to drive in winter conditions regularly. You can recover from an acceleration skid by easing your foot off the gas. Gently pumping the brakes may help during front-wheel skids, by shifting weight forward onto the front tires. Cars approaching. Never leave children or animals in a car unattended on a hot day. Your ability to remain calm and take appropriate evasive action during such situations could mean the difference between life and death. mechanical failures, e.g. No vehicles passing us on the left. All drivers face risks, but the factor that contributes most to crashes and deaths appears to be inexperience.1Newly licensed drivers, primarily teenagers, have the highest crash rates, but even drivers well into their twenties have higher crash rates than older drivers. He has taught driving courses for 47 years. A driver follows a three-second sequence to scan and react to a potential hazard: The driver has one . Distances that drivers have to coverIt is not unusual for some company drivers to spend half their working hours on the road. with a lift truck load fully raised); collisions with other vehicles and/or fixed objects or structures; and/or. Look for people. Low to zero-visibility, freezing temperatures and extremely slippery roads make blizzards the worst weather conditions for driving, by far. Looking through the corner. Vehicle turning out on the right. Looking for pedestrians. Step 3: Evaluate the risk and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. Brake lights on the vehicle in front. If you have an automatic braking system (ABS), which is pretty much standard in most newer cars, you want to push the pedal down and wait for the car to regain traction. All rights reserved. Understanding how this occurs will help you regain traction in an emergency. May help smooth out your drive by adjusting your cars suspension system making it easier to brake and steer. Heritage-Crystal Clean reduced compliance violations by 25%. Organized into an easy-to-follow checklist, this information can be printed off and revisited as often as needed; you may wish to read through it again before taking your car onto a freeway. Always keep an eye out for flying debris and other obstacles on the road ahead, when traveling in extremely windy conditions. With the increasing demand for truck deliveries and more traffic, drivers and companies face the challenge of avoiding collisions. Car turning on our right. brakes / tyre bursts. Unfavorable weather and road conditions can create hazards that make driving difficult, and more dangerous. If glare is coming from the left-side window, remember that most visors are detachable on one end and should be able to pivot and block peripheral light. Risk factors for motor vehicle crashes that are particularly elevated among teenage drivers include: Some of the hazards mentioned above (e.g. To secure a load safely you need to make sure it is: restrained tied firmly down to the load bed; and contained it cant move around (shift) inside the vehicle. Maintenance of vehicles brakes; flashing beacons and horns; steering; tyres; leaks from hydraulic pipes; and correct operation of the vehicle.Choice of vehiclesVehicles should be appropriate for the work that is being carried out. ergonomic considerations, mileages that will be covered. Reduce your speed to allow more time to react, should you need to evade an approaching hazard. Truck approaching. fisheye) mirrors to increase visibility. Gradients or other changes in level should be kept to a minimum. A worn tire at 2/32 of an inch is asking for a crash, as the stopping distance of a car is increased and traction is reduced. Another pedestrian crossing. If you cannot free your vehicle, call 911 and wait for assistance. What might a driving at work policy include? Learn more about the Motive fleet safety solution. However, you must never use high-beams in close quarters with other road users, as you may blind them and cause an accident. Watching for pedestrians. Car waiting to turn right. Like what you see? The car still may pull out on the left. Keep snow chains in your trunk. Above all, take the deer crossing signs seriously and go slow. Many car dealerships, could be many pedestrians. In the worst case scenario, vehicles can roll over due to load shift as the vehicle can become unbalanced and overturn. Up- or down-hill driving? In darkness, it is much harder to see and be seen by other drivers. Bus approaching. When driving a forklift on a ramp, OSHA CFR 1910.178 sets these standards: Grades shall be ascended or descended slowly. . If you ask us, we would rather take the uphill part of the drive because going downhill is harder. Commercial fleets save up to 13% on fuel costs, study shows. People dont always think of a torrential downpour the same way they think of a snowstorm, but heavy rain can impede visibility and cause hydroplaning, where the wheels come off the pavement and onto the surface of the water, causing drivers to lose control. parked car door opening. Looking for potential hazards. Check the vehicle temperature gauge regularly and pull over if there is a chance your engine may overheat. Don't drive in neutral or with your foot on the clutch. Bright sunlight can impair your vision and even cause temporary blindness. Computer-based hazard perception tests are used in a number of countries as part of the driver licensing processes, and hence evaluating the validity of such tests is crucial. hoosing not to drive in rain, snow or fog, at night or during any other hazardous conditions is always the smartest decision. Checking the parked cars. This can be caused by uneven floors, sudden turns, or overloading the forklifts beyond their capacity. Van waiting to pull out. Pedestrian crossing ahead of us. Bad weather. 2023 National Safety Council Be mindful of slick roads and reduce your speed when the roadway is wet. Looking through the corner. In 2020, 16% of children age 14 and younger killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. Step 1: Look for hazards that may result in harm when driving on public roads. The same holds true for buses. Looking amongst the parked cars. Snow chains can be an enormous help in slippery situations, where it would otherwise be impossible to gain traction. Through the corner, following a van, built up area, many things going on. Brake failure B.) Vehicles approaching. Parked cars on the right. If that doesnt work, put the mats under the front wheels (for front-wheel drive) or under the back wheels (for a rear-wheel drive). Of all the adverse weather conditions you may have to deal with while driving, fog is the most dangerous. If not, its time to brake: Swerving off the road at highway speeds is risky and can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. Car waiting to enter on our left. The feature is intended to assist you in maintaining control of the vehicle, by traveling at a safe speed downhill. Six inches of water can cause loss of control, 12 inches will float most vehicles and two feet will float pick-up trucks and SUVs. My Blog one hazard associated with driving downhill is: . Improper Maintenance. Flash your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Turning, vehicles approaching. All or part of the load may be damaged if it falls from the trailer. Scanning through the corner. Darkness, eyes need time to adjust. Coming up a hill, our vision becomes obscured. Dont let a traffic ticket affect your driving record or insurance rates. Vehicles changing lanes up ahead. It could be a: child chasing a ball onto the road. If its not dead, it will be kicking, with sharp hooves and antlers, Solomon says. Once the wheels are on the mat, try turning to get away from the snow. Due to the force of gravity, a car travelling downhill: May accelerate on its own if not controlled properly. During rear-wheel skids, this will be in the same direction as the skid. In addition to adverse weather, traction loss can be caused by issues with your vehicle. Pedestrian crossing the road. An experienced commentator points out potential hazards facing drivers and suggests ways that drivers could respond safely. Locked wheel skids occur when traveling at speed and the brakes are applied too sharply. Stick to low-beam headlights in built-up areas and when you are in close proximity to other drivers. Get access to free and research-validated resources for safety leaders who are ready to build an AI-driven safety program. (Some cars have an electronic brake that only requires a button push. Manual handlingHandling products can involve the frequent movement of some fairly substantial loadsLifting operationsOperations involving cranes or vehicle mounted lifting equipment (e.g. Truck approaching. Here are the 12 forklift hazards in the warehouse to be aware of: Improper Use. Snow, ice, fog and heavy rain are all likely to significantly affect journey times but are also direct contributory factors in many vehicle incidents. Courses available for all skill levels. vehicle entrance doors that are open to the elements). Ensuring traffic routes are suitable and sufficient for the types and volume of traffic that will be using them. Looking over the crest of the hill. Keep in mind that in most states, drivers are legally required to clear all ice and snow from their vehicles before a journey. That's especially sound advice for a good part of the country, as the winter season means more driving perils, including poor visibility, snowbanks, and ice. Managements responsibility to assess the risks from driving and to put in place thesystems to manage that risk. Ensuring that vehicles are properly maintained, including the drivers responsibilities to ensure vehicle roadworthiness if being used on the companys behalf. Traffic lights. As you are about to enter a decline, reduce your speed below your features activation threshold. Driving in the rain can be every bit as dangerous as driving in icy or snowy conditions. Parked vehicles as well. Boards or tree branches will work well. If youre down to three good tires, youre no longer in a position to drive safely on the road. It is also illegal in most states. Approaching traffic. Braking in front of another driver B.) Scanning through the corner. Drive with two hands on the wheel, put your emergency flashers on, check your mirrors, and get over to the right shoulder of the road if at all possible, Solomon says. Car reversing out. Following a car down hill. There may be barriers, cones, heavy equipment, temporary signs, signal lights and workers in the roadway, prior to, during and beyond work sites. Brainscape helps you realize your greatest personal and professional ambitions through strong habits and hyper-efficient studying. Parked vehicles on the left. Employers with five or more employees are required torecord the significant findings of their risk assessment. a proper check was made; those who might be affected were consulted; and all of the obvious hazards were identified and addressed. Step 5: Review your assessment and revise as necessary to ensure that the risks to those who drive, and others, are controlled.