Employers with vehicle fleets or employees who drive are aware (or should be) that the greatest probability of an injury incident is going to be vehicle or driving related.  Many organizations have therefore, incorporated driver training into their OHS program.  This is as it should be.  Unfortunately, in many cases, this is where vehicle safety stops.

Training is too often expected to become “THE ANSWER” to vehicle incident reduction; a driver involved in an accident is automatically sent back to re-attend the training program where they passed with flying colours seemingly without effort.  Lack of skill is clearly not the problem.

In this situation, is retraining really the answer or are there other forces at play?  Could this be a motivational problem, and attitudinal issue, maybe a medical condition?  Was the vehicle appropriate for the work and equipped correctly?  Training can’t address these issues.

A driver training program labouring under the expectation that it should solve all of an organization’s driver safety or incident problems is destined to fall short.

Training is undertaken for a variety of reasons:

• To train and qualify new operators
• To provide refresher or upgrade training/education
• To reinforce previously learned skills
• To re-qualify experienced operators

But there are many more elements to an effective vehicle safety program.

How does yours stack up?  Compare the features of your vehicle/driver safety program with this list of critical key elements:

1. Senior Management Commitment

Is driver safety seen and acted on by senior management as a critical safety issue?  Frequently we see “lip service” paid to driver safety with strong statements of corporate commitment but an absence of meaningful action.  Senior executives are visibly absent in the training courses associated with the program and have a belief that they are somehow exempt from vehicle safety policies like pre-trip inspection and circle check.

Enlightened organizations implement driver safety programs by starting with attendance and qualification on courses from executives very early in the process.  These managers lead by example by committing to the program and adhering to policy (like cell phone prohibition, backing in to park, circle checks, etc.)  Workers need to both hear about safety from management and also see management participating and in compliance.

2. Written Policies and Procedures

Vehicle safety policy and practice should be identified and detailed in its own section in your Health and Safety Manual.

The policy should state the company’s expectation of employees who drive as well as specific policy related to job tasks involving vehicle use or movement; on or off road.  In addition, the policy should state qualifications for use of various types or classes and the training/testing required to achieve these qualifications.

Consequences for non-compliance (if different from corporate disciplinary system) should be stated clearly.

3. Driver Abstract/Record Checks

Check the driving records of all prospective employees who will be driving for work purposes.  Screen out applicants who have poor driving records since they are most likely to cause problems in the future.  The driving record should be reviewed annually to ensure that the employee maintains a good driving record and action should be taken if the record deteriorates.

Clearly define the number of violations an employee/driver can have before losing the privilege of driving for work, and provide training where indicated.

4. Incident Reporting and Investigation

All vehicle incidents should be reported and investigated. Involve the services of an experienced trainer or vehicle operation expert if one is not available in-house.

Root causes should be identified and action items (if applicable) developed that will help prevent future incidents.

5. Vehicle Selection, Maintenance and Inspection

Selecting, properly maintaining and routinely inspecting company vehicles is an important part of preventing crashes and related losses.  Ensure that the vehicle selected for a particular application is suited and properly equipped to permit safe use in that application and environment.

A pre-trip/shift inspection routine should be incorporated into the vehicle safety policy and vehicles inspected daily by the driver.

Regular maintenance should be done at specific mileage intervals consistent with the manufacturer’s recommendations.  A mechanic should do a thorough inspection of each vehicle at least annually.

6. Disciplinary System

Develop a strategy to determine the course of action after the occurrence of a moving violation, policy breach, complaint and/or “preventable” incident.

There are a variety of corrective action programs available; the majority of these are based on a system that assigns points for infractions and/or incidents.  The system should provide for progressive discipline if an employee begins to develop a pattern of repeated problems.

7. Reward/Incentive Program

Safe driving behaviours contribute directly to the bottom line and should be recognized as such.  Positive results are realized when driving performance is incorporated into the overall evaluation of job performance.  Reward and incentive programs typically involve recognition, monetary rewards, special privileges or the use of other incentives.

8. Driver Training/Communication

The training program should be an integral part of the OHS program and be ongoing.  Training should include:

• Initial training and qualification; New hires, even those with clean driving records may have never experienced professional training and only passed a basic government driving exam, (perhaps many years ago).  To set a baseline for driver performance and to document competence in case of future problems, employees should be trained, evaluated and qualified on the vehicle type(s) that they will be assigned to in the environment that they will be operating in.
• Regular refresher/requalification should be an integral part of the program.
• The best programs incorporate a driver safety related course, seminar, or event annually to keep vehicle safety at the forefront in employee’s minds and demonstrate the corporate commitment to safety.
• Every 2 to 3 years, requalification by on-road evaluation should be conducted.

In summary, keeping vehicle incident rates low goes beyond just providing training, it includes a comprehensive system of the key elements discussed in this article.  How does your organization measure up?

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Driver Training Isn’t Enough first appeared on Thinking Driver.

I lie sometimes when I’m in a social situation and my line of work is questioned.  If I know I’ll never see these folks again, I might just tell them that I’m a painter.  “I paint houses,” I might say.

Now, I have been in the driver safety/training business for almost 4 decades.  I hold pretty much every vehicle related training license available.  I have been hired as a consultant to 2 different governments to develop licensing programs including road testing.  I have trained hundreds of emergency vehicle operators, including police pursuit training and authored numerous training courses, manuals and articles.  But sometimes when asked what I do, I claim to be a  house painter.  Not that I think painting houses is a more worthy line of work than mine or that I’m ashamed of my profession, it’s just that few people have strong opinions about house painting; how it should be done or not done or wants to start a debate to prove that the way YOU paint isn’t really right.  If I say, “I’m a house painter,” my conversational partner will reply in rather disinterested tone with eyes glazing over “oh, how interesting” and look desperately for someone whom they judge to actually BE interesting.

I lie because if I say I’m a driver safety training professional and have to explain just what that is, the next question or comment directed towards me is usually about the crash that someone was in or ticket that someone got that clearly was not their fault.  They want to tell me the whole story of how the weather that day was particularly nasty, the road has that strange dip, how the car in front “just stopped” for no reason making them run into the back of him.  They want to tell me why the policeman who wrote them a ticket was wrong to do so.  I have listened while otherwise seemingly intelligent people argue that they should not have received that speeding ticket because everyone else was speeding too!

What they really want is for me to agree with them.

I have learned to engage in these conversations at my peril.  You see, as soon as I offer even the slightest of professional opinion about the apparent circumstances of the crash that they were in, mention the concept of preventability or point out that indeed, if they were speeding, the fact that everyone else was too isn’t a very good excuse.  (Mom always asked me if everyone else jumped off the bridge would I jump too?)

As soon as I disagree at all the rightness of their position, or offer a different perspective, any credibility that I may have had with them initially, is gone.  I become, in their eyes, an idiot.  And I wish that I had said, “I’m a painter.”

Funny thing about driving, EVERYONE thinks that they are an expert when in fact most people are woefully uninformed about some of the most basic rules and regulations, defensive driving principles and tactics.  Moreover, most people have an overinflated opinion of their own driving ability.  A dangerous combination, I believe.

This condition, I think, points to one of the most fundamental reasons why we continue to have so many crashes.  If we all believe that there is nothing wrong with our driving, that we know all that there is to know about driving, that we are all superbly skilled, expert drivers and everyone else is the problem, then we are unlikely to expend any energy to make improvements or to even learn from our mistakes.

So next time, when you climb behind the wheel ask yourself, “how’s my driving?”  Really analyse how you are doing instead of noting everyone else’s mistakes and complaining about how bad everyone else is.  Ask yourself if there are any bad habits that have crept in over the years that you could work on?  Just don’t assume that you couldn’t possibly get any better.  When life sends you feedback on your driving by way of a close call or a ticket, don’t be so fast to blame someone else, there may be a valuable lesson that you are missing!

Who knows, you may just prevent that next ticket or crash.

Me?  I’m still banking on never meeting someone who actually needs a house painter at one of those gatherings!  So far so good….

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post So, you think you can drive? first appeared on Thinking Driver.

Right up until the point of impact.

I have been a rider since 1972 and enjoyed riding everything from mini-bikes with lawnmower engines to 100+ horsepower sport and touring bikes.

I love my motorcycles: my BMW 1200RT is called Alice (the Missle), and Hugo is a Kawasaki KLR 650 (you name your vehicles too, right?).  I love riding off road and touring on the highway and have been as far north as Whitehorse and south to Arizona.

In 1975 I won a trophy for being the first junior in Canada in the National Observed Trials competition.  (I ask myself sometimes…. That was 50 years ago, should I still be bragging about it?)  Holy smokes, I’m old!

Me and thousands of other riders begin to appear on the highways this time of year.  Too many will not see the end of riding season.  Some will crash their bikes due to over-exuberant riding or overconfidence which is unfortunate; but many more will lose in a collision with another vehicle.

We riders say that motorcycles are the safest vehicles on the road because they accelerate out of danger, stop quicker and are more manoeuverable than pretty much any other vehicle.  We like to think that we can ride out of most dangerous situations.  The problem is that too often, we are just simply not seen and the other driver does something to cause a collision that we CAN’T avoid.  A motorcycle is the safest vehicle on the road, right up until the point of impact.

We are vulnerable road users and when we tangle with a car, the car generally wins.

When a motorcycle and another vehicle collide, it’s most often the other driver’s fault.  The situation that’s most common is the other driver turning left in front of the motorcyclist.  The car driver typically doesn’t see the motorcycle or actually sees the rider but misjudges the approach speed and thinks there is time to turn because a motorcycle is small when viewed from the front and this makes speed estimation problematic.

Motorcycles are tough to see and if you are not looking for them, very easy to miss.  They handle much differently than other vehicles and have some special characteristics.  If you don’t really understand them, they can be difficult to share the road with.

Some easy guidelines for you to apply as you see riders this spring and summer will help keep everyone safer.

• When you are waiting at an intersection to turn left, remember that you may have more than just cars and trucks approaching and look for motorcycles.  If you see a rider approaching, make sure that they are coming at a speed that allows you to turn safely in front of them before starting your turn.
• Remember that a motorcycle can stop in a fraction of the distance that your car or SUV can so leave a good following distance.  If the rider brakes suddenly for some reason and you are too close, you will not be able to slow quickly enough to avoid them.  Normally, under ideal conditions, we suggest a following distance of at least 3 seconds behind a motorcycle.  Add more distance if conditions deteriorate.
• When you change lanes, check your mirror and shoulder check to make sure that there is no motorcycle in your blind spot.  Most of us riders work hard to stay out of blind spots but if you don’t shoulder check before changing lanes, you will never be sure that the lane change is safe.
• When you are stopped behind a motorcycle, leave a good space.  It feels very intimidating to have a large vehicle stopped really close behind you.

So this spring, take a moment to think about and practise these tips to help you stay out of conflict with us riders and share the road!

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Open Your Eyes! Its Motorcycle Season! first appeared on Thinking Driver.

This organization is one of the best in terms of customer service, employee morale and relations and was recognized as one of Canada’s Safest Employers and yet for employees who drive personal and company vehicles from time to time, nothing is done.  Not even checking that employees are licensed, much less annual checks of driving records.  It was just never considered.

They are not alone.  Too many employers fail to recognize that if they send their employees out onto the road, they are driving as part of the job.  While driving may not be the principal part of their job, they are driving as part of their profession and may be woefully unprepared to safely execute this duty in the environment and vehicles required.

But, you say, if these workers have current licenses, they must be competent!

Not necessarily.

In order to become licensed, one must pass certain tests, typically a knowledge test followed by at least one driving test (in some jurisdictions, 2 road tests).  The road test may have been conducted when the worker was a teenager and upon passing, their driving will never be looked at again until they either participate in a corporate driver safety program or get flagged in the system for excessive violations or hit the senior years when retesting may occur.  To complicate matters further, road tests are available in even the smallest of communities and may be taken in the smallest of cars and yet a passing mark yields a license that permits the holder to drive any sized vehicle in that license class in downtown Toronto, Detroit, Montreal, Los Angeles or Vancouver.

Think about it:  Road test in the tiny interior town of Sparwood, BC, in a Smart Car.  Next thing you know, your new job has you driving a service van or full size car or pick-up in downtown Edmonton.  How on earth can we think that this person has been prepared to meet the challenge?  Yet, if they fail to measure up and have an incident or accident, we may blame them for not taking enough care or being defensive enough!

What other occupational duty requiring training and exposing employees to high risk (driving remains the most probable activity to result in an injury incident on the job) requires no initial or refresher training or recertification?  Even first aid requires regular re-training and qualification!

Our conversation really got interesting for me when I mentioned that due diligence would be to at least require annual driver abstract (record) checks with a maximum number of penalty points permitted and provision for some remedial action if this number was exceeded.  This is where it really hit me.  My enlightened safety professional colleague asked how we should distinguish between on the job tickets and off the job tickets.  My response was: the same way that you would distinguish between criminal activity on or off the job.  You require responsible and legal behaviour ON or OFF the job.  Driving infractions off the job are equally relevant.  Would you hire someone convicted of embezzlement while off the job to work in your accounting department?

He said, “Hmmm, I think I see where you are going with this.”

Indeed.

Employers can take a few simple steps toward enhancing employee safety and demonstrate due diligence by:

• Checking driving records of employees who must drive prior to hiring and regularly after that (annual is recommended).
• Upon hiring, ensure employees are capable and not simply licensed by evaluating driving skills in the vehicle that will be used for work and in the same environment, to set a baseline and determine if training is required.
• Then, do training if indicated.
• Provide regular refresher and/or upgrade training as well as specialty training where indicated; winter driving or four wheel drive training, etc.

There are some outstanding and progressive companies that are truly showing the way by embracing driver safety issues and addressing them this way in their OHS programs (you know who you are).  For everyone else, let’s make a start today towards reducing the risk in this most risky of work activities!

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Due Diligence and Employees Who Drive; We Have a Long Way to Go! first appeared on Thinking Driver.

Paul Simon sang it in 1977 (there I go dating myself again) and it’s still happening every winter.  But with some simple techniques and a bit of practise, you can eliminate that ole’ slip sliding away.

Traction is the main element to consider when driving in winter conditions and when you have lost traction you slip sliding!

It doesn’t matter what the road surface is or what the conditions are; there is a finite amount of grip or traction between the tires of your vehicle and that road.

Once you exceed the available traction and your vehicle is no longer responding to your commands to steer, brake or accelerate, you are no longer in control.  Your final destination is now in the hands of Newton.  Sir Isaac Newton, that is.

Vehicle control is about physics and we learned all that we really need to know about it in high school (grade 9 physics if I recall that far back).

Learning skills to observe these laws can take a bit of practise, but no amount of skill or luck will let you dodge them.  Ignore Newton at your peril.

Newton’s first law: says that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by another force.  An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by another force.

This law is often called “the law of inertia.”

In driving, if your vehicle is not moving, it doesn’t want to move unless acted on by another force.  Once your vehicle is moving, it wants to stay moving in the same direction as it is going unless acted upon by other forces.

Simply said, whatever your vehicle is doing, it will continue to do until acted upon by an outside force.

You exert that force to change the speed or direction by altering the speed or path of the tires and as they grip the road, your direction or speed changes; but ONLY if you have maintained traction and they are not sliding.

Abrupt steering, braking or acceleration exerts excessive forces that may exceed available traction and initiate a skid or spin, that’s why controlling with finesse is critical to winter safety.  Do everything as smoothly and as gently as you can to keep the vehicle balanced and maintain the tires’ grip with the road.

Here are some techniques to try:

• Leave yourself extra space and begin to brake early when you know that you may have to slow or stop.  The longer distance that you use to slow, the less traction that you need to stay in control.
• Keep your speed lower than usual on corners and avoid sliding sideways.
• Squeeze and ease the brake and accelerator.  Start gently and gradually increase pressure to minimize the weight shift of the vehicle on braking or acceleration and reduce the chances of traction loss.
• Avoid abrupt steering and use “total control steering.”  Keep your hands at the 9 and 3 o’clock position on the steering wheel and “shuffle” or “push and pull” the steering wheel to the left or right.  This will help you make directional change more progressively and maintain your traction.
• Traction is improved when you have good winter tires and enough weight in the vehicle.  Drivers with empty rear wheel drive pickup trucks could consider adding weight when conditions are slippery.
• Look well ahead in slippery conditions to plan when you may need to slow or stop.  Avoid coming to a complete stop when possible and legal, particularly on hills where more traction is needed to get moving than is needed to keep moving.  If you stop on a hill, it’s much more difficult to get going!
• Read the road surface and try to drive where there is better traction and minimal ice.
• If you do find yourself slip sliding away and using your anti-lock brakes, use them correctly!  If you feel or hear your anti-lock brakes activating, remember, the right reaction is to push the brake pedal down hard and look and steer where you want to go.  Don’t let up on the pedal until you are either back under control or stopped.  The anti-lock brakes are designed to keep your wheels from locking up and allow you to steer out of danger.

Practise these techniques and you may find yourself singing Randy Bachman instead of Paul Simon and instead of “Slip Sliding Away”, you will be safely “Rollin’ Down the Highway.”

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Superior Winter Control Skills first appeared on Thinking Driver.

We were on British Columbia’s Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt, in the middle of winter.  This is the stretch of road now made famous by Discovery Channel program “Highway Through Hell.”  We were going skiing.  It was snowing, the road was covered in compact snow and the temperature was well below freezing.  For this time of year on the Coquihalla: pretty typical conditions.

These kinds of conditions can be challenging to drive in, but by no means must they be particularly dangerous if handled responsibly and with a modicum of skill and caution.

Approach winter conditions with less than good vehicle handling skills and/or overconfidence and you are in for trouble.

We live in a country where every single city has the potential for and history of snow.  Yes, even Victoria, BC has seen snowy roads!  So why are there so many crashes at the first sign of the white stuff?

Too many of us either don’t understand the nature of traction, how to find and maintain traction in winter conditions and the implications of traction loss; or we do understand all of this but overestimate our capabilities.  Either way, the results range from simply getting stuck or the harmless spinout described above, to more tragic events like the bus crash on a snowy pass in Oregon that killed several passengers.

So, let’s review: There are 6 main driving conditions that may affect your driving during winter months.  Being mentally aware of these 6 conditions will assist you in safely negotiating your way during periods of extreme driving conditions.

The 6 Conditions are:

Weather Conditions

Weather is the most unpredictable of the 6 conditions of winter driving.  Winter can bring snow, sleet, ice, rain, winds and extreme temperatures.  These conditions can last minutes or days.  They can change without notice, making your journey hazardous.  Prior to leaving on a trip, it is important to check the weather and road conditions to better prepare yourself.  Knowledge is power.  Weather reports are available from various locations such as the radio, television, or the internet.  Many jurisdictions have dedicated government phone numbers or websites where you can obtain the latest weather conditions.

Vehicle Conditions

This is the one condition that you have some control over.  Get your vehicle winter-ready with a maintenance check-up.  Don’t wait for winter to check your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers, and ignition system.  A simple winter check-up for your vehicle may alleviate serious problems in the future.  Getting stranded on the side of the road in winter conditions is no picnic.  For sure, check that you have good winter tires with the snowflake symbol displayed on the sidewall.

Road Conditions

It is not reasonable, nor prudent, to expect roads to be bare and dry during winter months.  Snow, ice, slush and compact snow are road conditions that can be expected any time in winter.  Being prepared to meet the challenges that these conditions bring is critical to the safety of you and your passengers.  As with weather conditions, there are also government agencies that provide information about road conditions.  A simple call or check will give you a heads up on the road conditions before you drive.

Traffic Conditions

Sharing the road with others is something you can’t avoid.  They may not be as prepared as you are.  They may be running on poor tires and perhaps are driving well beyond their abilities and capabilities.  A thinking driver will perform a proper assessment of this risk and choose the appropriate action to deal with the situation.  Perhaps just changing lanes will do the trick.  If they are following you so close that they become a hazard, it may be safer to have them in front of you.  Move over and let them pass.  Leaving more room or staying away from other drivers during winter driving is the Thinking Driver way.

Lighting Conditions

During winter months, depending on where you live, daylight can be from a few hours to non-existent.  With later sunrises, earlier sunsets, and the sun lower in the horizon, glare can be a bug hazard.  Glare is intensified by the cover of white snow on the ground or blowing snow.  To minimize these effects, maintain the cleanliness of your windshield on both the outside and inside.  Any debris or dirt film will intensify the glare and reduce your visibility.  Wearing sunglasses is a good option to reduce glare.  Because of the extended hours of darkness, make sure that all your lights are functioning properly and that they are cleaned off periodically.  This is an important step to increase your ability to see and be seen by others.  Blowing snow will accumulate on the back of the vehicle, covering tail and brake lights, so check them regularly.  Ensuring that your tail lights are clean, will increase your visibility and reduce the likelihood of being rear ended.

Driver Conditions

Winter driving can be stressful and exhausting.  With changing conditions, other drivers on the road and wearing cumbersome clothing, winter driving is not the same as summer driving.  Vehicle control can be more difficult when you are wearing heavy winter boots along with several layers of clothing.  Your winter gear can impede your movements and make vehicle control more difficult than when you are in comfortable clothing during summer months.

Being well rested will increase your mental alertness and assist you in remaining focused on the driving task at hand.  It will help you remain calm during stressful situations.  When you are well rested, you are less susceptible to physical aches and pains.  You will find yourself feeling more comfortable behind the wheel than if you are tired.  Being well rested will ensure that you are in good shape for the trip, not only mentally, but physically as well.

Consider these six conditions every time you venture out in winter (or any time for that matter).  A thinking driver recognizes that these conditions affect the way that they must drive to stay safe and uses good driving techniques to negotiate them.

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Winter Driving Survival first appeared on Thinking Driver.

Your chances of being killed or injured while driving or riding in a vehicle are greater than any other activity that most people do.  Traveling by automobile is many times more dangerous than any other mode of transportation.

It’s funny, most of us have sat in a departure terminal waiting to board an airplane and have had at least a passing thought: “I hope this isn’t the time that something goes wrong”, or have been on the plane when there has been turbulence and the plane starts bouncing around and thought: “This is it, now we are all going to die!”

But have you ever thought before climbing behind the wheel, “What I’m about to do is dangerous.  If either I or any of the hundreds or thousands of people that I will share the road with today, people that I don’t know, have never or WILL EVER meet and know nothing about, screw up, I could end up badly hurt or killed.”

But we don’t: Except in rare and tragic cases.  And the number of these occurrences and the number of fatalities involved, pales in comparison to the numbers that are killed every year on the nation’s highways.

We don’t think those thoughts, though.  Not most of us.

Some activities are just so dangerous that most of us don’t even consider engaging in them.

I saw a t-shirt once that said, “I am a bomb disposal technician.  If you see me running, try to keep up”

But not driving.

Yet it is the leading cause of unintentional deaths at 10.9 fatalities per population of 100,000 according to the Centers for Disease Control.

If you drive as part of your job, it’s the most likely way that you will be injured on the job too.

Being an astronaut is probably one of the more dangerous jobs, but not because of driving land-based vehicles!

Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut who flew on the International Space Station in 2013 for 5 months and was its Commander most of that time, says that this dangerous mission was the culmination of his career that began in the Canadian military where he was a fighter pilot, then a test pilot, then finally an astronaut.  Hadfield said in an interview, after the mission, that he isn’t a risk taker by nature and in fact he is risk averse and even afraid of heights!  He tries to reduce the risk in every activity that he does by being aware, educating himself about the risk and preventative ways to mitigate or reduce that risk, and as he calls it, by practising “negative thinking.”

He says that there is a lot of popular psychology these days about the power of positive thinking but he relies more on negative thinking.  Thinking that asks: “what could go wrong here?”  Instead of either ignoring risk or just hoping or trusting that everything will be okay.

Once engineers analyze and identify the risks and dangers in the mission, activity, or task, they can plan how to reduce that risk and how to implement a primary plan and a backup plan if the first risk reducing strategy fails.  Only after doing everything reasonable to reduce the risks of an incident or accident, does the mission go forward with confidence that everything that can reasonably be don, HAS been done.

Does that eliminate risk though?

Absolutely not!

Space travel is inherently risky, as we have seen from the several tragedies dating back to the Apollo days and through two (2) shuttle missions lost with all crew members, so even after taking every conceivable precaution, something can still go wrong.

Most of us will never become astronauts, but driving is no different than space travel as an inherently risky activity and an activity where things can also go terribly wrong even after taking every defensive precaution.  The risks involved with driving are even more difficult to identify and the defences more uncertain than ones involving space travel in some ways.  At NASA, everyone is on the same team and working towards the same safe and incident free outcome.  We share the roads with strangers who may or may not take the same care that we do.  NASA engineers are controlling risk involving generally predictable equipment and machinery failure.  We have to deal with the uncertainty of unpredictable human behaviour in people that we don’t even know!

So the next time you slip behind the wheel, think about yourself as a fighter pilot or astronaut.  Not the daring and risk taking Buck Rogers, hero of screen and story, but the real thing: a thoughtful and skilled technician and expert at negative thinking, assessing situations and reducing the risk of incident.

That way, like Chris did, we can all come home safely.

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Negative Thinking May Be Your Best Defense! first appeared on Thinking Driver.

I was chatting with a friend and colleague the other day about safety and employees who must drive as part of their duties.  This major retailer operates its own fleet of tractor trailer delivery vehicles and operates Canada-wide.  We have been providing driver safety products and services to their delivery fleet operation for a decade now, but we were discussing the other “non-professional” drivers: Employees who drive many kilometers every year to do their job.  I asked what they were doing to keep these employees safe?  The answer shocked me: “We never really thought about that,” he said.

This organization is one of the best in terms of customer service, employee morale and relations and was recognized as one of Canada’s Safest Employers and yet for employees who drive personal and company vehicles from time to time in the course of their duties, nothing is done.  Not even checking that employees are licensed, much less annual checks of driving records.  It was just never considered.

They are not alone.  Too many employers fail to recognize that if they send their employees out onto the road, they are driving as part of their job.  While driving may not be the principal part of their job, they are driving as part of their profession and may be woefully unprepared to safely execute this duty in the environment and vehicles required.

But, you say, if these workers have current licenses, they must be competent!

Not necessarily.

In order to become licensed, one must pass certain tests, typically a knowledge test followed by at least one driving test (in some jurisdictions 2 road tests).  The road test may have been conducted when the worker was a teenager and upon passing, their driving will never be looked at again until they either participate in a corporate driving safety program or get flagged by the system for excessive violations or hit the senior years when retesting may occur.  To complicate matters further, road tests are available in even the smallest of communities and may be taken in the smallest of cars and yet a passing mark yields a license that permits the holder to drive any sized vehicle in that license class in downtown Toronto, Detroit, Montreal, Los Angeles or Vancouver.

Think about it: Road test in the tiny interior town of Sparwood, BC, in a Smart car.  Next thing you know, your new job has you driving a service van or full size car or pick-up in downtown Edmonton.  How on earth can we think that this person has been prepared to meet the challenge?  Yet, if they fail to measure up and have an incident or accident, we may blame them for not taking enough care or being defensive enough!

What other occupational duty requiring training and exposing employees to high risk (driving remains the most probable activity to result in an injury incident on the job) requires no initial or refresher training or recertification?  Even first aid requires regular re-training and qualification!

Our conversation really got interesting for me when I mentioned that due diligence would be to at least require annual driver abstract (record) checks with a maximum number of penalty points permitted and provision for some remedial action if this number was exceeded.  This is where it really hit me.  My enlightened safety professional colleague asked how we should distinguish between on the job tickets and off the job tickets.  My response: the same way that you distinguish between criminal activity on or off the job.  You require responsible and legal behaviour ON or OFF the job.  Driving infractions off the job are equally relevant.  Would you hire someone convicted of embezzlement while off the job to work in your accounting department?

He said, “Hmm, I think I see where you are going with this.”

Indeed.

Employers can take a few simple steps toward enhancing employee safety and demonstrate due diligence by:

• Checking driving records of employees who must drive prior to hiring and regularly after that (annual is recommended).
• Upon hiring, ensure employees are capable and not simply licensed by evaluating driving skills in the vehicle that will be used for work and in the same environment, to set a baseline and determine if training is required.
• Then, do training if indicated.
• Provide regular refresher and/or upgrade training as well as specialty training where indicated; winter driving or four wheel drive training, etc.

There are some outstanding and progressive companies that are truly showing the way by embracing driver safety issues and addressing them this way in their OHS programs (you know who you are).  For everyone else, let’s make a start today towards reducing the risk in this most risky of work activities!

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Driver Due Diligence first appeared on Thinking Driver.

Right up until the point of impact.

I have been a rider since 1972 and enjoyed riding everything from mini-bikes with lawnmower engines to 100+ horsepower sport and touring bikes.

I love my motorcycles: my BMW 1200RT is called Alice (the missile), and Hugo is a Kawasaki KLR 650 (you name your vehicles too right?).  I love riding off road and touring on the highway and have been as far north as Whitehorse and south of Arizona.

In 1975, I won a trophy for being the first junior in Canada, in the national Observed Trials competition.  (I ask myself sometimes… That was over 40 years ago, should I still be bragging about it?).  Holy smokes I’m old!

But old or not, this summer, I will be heading off again, touring, on Alice, the missile.

Me and thousands of other riders begin to appear on the highways this time of year.  Too many will not see the end of the riding season.  Some will crash their bikes due to over-exuberant riding or overconfidence which is unfortunate; but many more will lose in a collision with another vehicle.

We riders say that motorcycles are the safest vehicles on the road because they accelerate out of danger, stop quicker and are more manoeuvrable than pretty much any other vehicle.  We like to think that we can ride out of most dangerous situations.  The problem is that too often, we are simply not seen and the other driver does something to cause a collision that we CAN’T avoid.  A motorcycle is the safest on the road, right up until the point of impact.

We are vulnerable road users and when we tangle with a car, the car generally wins.

When a motorcycle and another vehicle collide, it’s most often the other driver’s fault.  The situation that’s most common is the other driver turning left in front of the motorcyclist.  The car driver typically doesn’t see the motorcycle or actually sees the rider but misjudges the approach speed and thinks there is time to turn because a motorcycle is small when viewed from the front and this makes speed estimation problematic.

Motorcycles are tough to see and if you are not looking for them, very easy to miss.  They handle much differently than other vehicles and have some special characteristics.  If you don’t really understand them, they can be difficult to share the road with.

Some easy guidelines for you to apply as you see riders this spring and summer will help keep everyone safer.

• When you are waiting at intersections to turn left, remember that you may have more than just cars and trucks approaching and look for motorcycles.  If you see a rider approaching, make sure that they are coming at a speed that allows you to turn safely in front of them before starting your turn.
• Remember that a motorcycle can stop in a fraction of the distance that your car or SUV can so leave a good following distance.  If the rider brakes suddenly for some reason and you are too close, you will not be able to slow quickly enough to avoid them.  Normally, under ideal conditions, we suggest a following distance of at least 3 seconds behind a motorcycle.  Add more distance if conditions deteriorate.
• When you change lanes, check your mirror and shoulder check to make sure that there is no motorcycle in your blind spot.  Most of us riders work hard to stay out of blind spots but if you don’t shoulder check before changing lanes, you will never be sure that the lane change is safe.
• When you are stopped behind a motorcycle, leave a good space.  It feels very intimidating to have a large vehicle stopped really close behind you.

So this summer, take a moment to think about and practise these tips to help you stay out of conflict with us riders and share the road!

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Open your eyes! Its motorcycle season! first appeared on Thinking Driver.

There is only one fundamental goal in vehicle control for driving excellence whether it is for performance and racing, fuel economy and reduced wear and tear or enhanced safety.  That goal is: drive with smoothness and finesse

I was paid what I think is the highest compliment the other day by a friend who was describing my driving to a colleague.  He said, “When Spencer is driving, nothing seems to be happening; no excitement, no surprises, nothing abrupt, just a smooth flow through traffic.”  It wasn’t always that way though.  When I was a young man, I thought that i knew what good driving was; you stomped the gas and cranked the steering wheel.  I thought good drivers had the skill and guts to drive close to other vehicles, zip past and fly down the road.

Boy was I wrong!

That style of driving cost me huge fines for speeding.  Eventually my license was suspended for 3 months within the first 24 months of getting it.  My style of aggressive, sloppy driving cost me multiple brake jobs because I wore out brakes like you can’t imagine, and I had 3 crashes in 3 years all before I was 20 years old.  The reality is that I was one of the WORST drivers on the road.  Even after all those tickets and crashes, I still figured that I was a great driver.  I was indeed a legend in my own mind!

I thought that because race car drivers went fast, if I went fast too, I would be like a race car driver and that’s good driving right?  It wasn’t until years later that I understood just why race car drivers are able to go fast and stay in control; Smoothness.

Yes, the best race drivers are the smoothest… they have the most finesse with brakes, accelerator and steering and they apply the principles of good vision, anticipation, space management and risk reduction to ensure that they never have to do anything abruptly and upset the balance of the vehicle.

When it comes down to it, traction, or the grip that your tires have with the road, is dependent on multiple factors, but the one that is most changeable moment to moment and controllable by the driver is the vehicle’s balance and loading on each wheel/tire.  It’s an easy concept: if you have vehicle weight distributed over all tires (balanced), you are pushing the tires into the road with the vehicle weight and creating traction or friction.  This is critical even if you are not a race car driver or driving at race car speeds.

What kind of driver are you?  You almost certainly believe that you are a great driver, but are you, like I was, a legend in your own mind?

If you strive for smoothness in your daily driving, you will save fuel, reduce the wear and tear on your vehicle (especially brakes) and enhance safety by reducing risk.  Practising smoothness also makes smooth control second nature which is critical if a sudden crisis does develop.  Smooth balanced control helps ensure that you maintain traction and reduces the likelihood of a skid.

It’s not that difficult to cultivate a smooth driving style.  You start by sitting correctly in your vehicle with your back close to upright and pressed back into the seat.  Your left foot braced on the dead-pedal and the heel of your right on the floor prepares you to control the accelerator and brake precisely by squeezing and easing on the pedal to manage the vehicle weight shift from front to back.

Your arms should be bent slightly at the elbows when you hold the steering wheel at 9 and 3 o’clock (yes 9 and 3!) then use the total control or push/pull method to turn the steering wheel.  This will smooth out your cornering and manage the lateral weight shifts when you turn.

Smooth driving is the hallmark of racing champions but also of professionals like police and other emergency vehicle operators.

Here is the litmus test of smooth and professional driving: are your passengers comfortable?  Do they remark on how relaxed your driving makes them feel or are you hearing comments (or jokes) about your driving or gasps and sharp intakes of breath?  Perhaps you should cultivate smoothness and become an excellent driver in reality instead of a legend in your own mind.

Written by: Spencer McDonald, President, Thinking Driver

The post Five Fundamentals – Control With Finesse first appeared on Thinking Driver.