Gearing up for the holiday weekend, we took 3 days to discuss the importance of safe driving and began to implement the G.O.A.L (Get Out And Look) approach. Our Incident and Injury Free journey enforces that both at home or at work, day or night, nobody gets hurt. As a part of this journey, we have developed this safe driving campaign to enforce the necessary aspects of safely driving a vehicle. Across the country, job sites and offices participated in daily topics related to backing & spotting, how to properly perform a 360 walk around, distracted driving, and shared safe driving habits.
Backing and Spotting
According to the National Safety Council, one out of every four accidents can be blamed on poor backing techniques. Each day, incidents occur involving backing into something and damaging a vehicle, an object, or both. For this reason, It is Aldridge’s policy to use a spotter whenever possible. When a spotter is unavailable, use the following tips to remain safe:
If a vehicle or piece of equipment is operating alone, the operator shall exit the vehicle prior to backing and survey the area behind.
Before operating a vehicle, the driver should perform a 360 walk-around or “Circle for Safety.”
The Circle for Safety procedure is a safe practice any driver can follow to ensure that the area around the vehicle is safe before departing. Simply walk all the way around your vehicle and check the clearances to the side, front, back, and above.
G.O.A.L or Get Out And Look around your area before proceeding can reduce the amount of motor vehicle, property, and equipment damage incidents.
360 Walk-Around- “Circle for Safety”
When performing your “Circle for Safety”, use the following inspection list:
Fluid Levels and Leaks – oil, coolant, brake, power steering, transmission, wiper fluid
Hoses, Belts, Wiring
Tires – damage, wear, pressure
Rims – cracks, welds, rust
Lug Nuts – loose or missing
Axle Seals – leaks
Suspension – cracks in springs, bolts, hangers
Steering – tie rods, drag link, pitman arm, gearbox, kingpins, ball joints
Exhaust
Drive Line – drive shaft, U joints, differentials
Frame – cracks, missing bolts
Brakes – adjustment, linings, drums, slack adjusters, hoses, chambers
Lights – clean and working
5th Wheel and Pintle – cracks, missing bolts
Current License Plate
If you identify one or more of these items not in proper working order, contact a fleet mechanic.
Distracted Driving
According to the National Safety Council, more than 2,800 people in the U.S. died in distraction-related crashes in 2018 alone – that’s at least seven people each day. That same year, 276,000 people were injured in distraction-related crashes.
We do a lot of our driving on “autopilot,” which is the brain’s mechanism for conserving energy. In fact, anytime we do a routine task, we are at serious risk of this hazard. This also might be the reason why we may all be unable to recall details of our commutes to and from work. Putting conscious attention into your drive each time you get behind the wheel can help avoid this exposure.
The key to overcoming this expectation bias is to be more proactive with our observations while driving. By doing so, we may perceive new hazards faster and apply proactive maneuvers.
Some strategies to use to fight complacency include:
Scan 10-15 seconds ahead; check mirrors every 5-8 seconds
Take a break from driving if fatigued
Do not let other drivers dictate your behavior
Pause before going through an intersection and observe your surroundings
Driving distractions come in four main forms:
Visual: Taking your eyes off the road to do something else, such as read a billboard
Auditory: Hearing something not related to driving, like music or a phone call
Manual: Handling something other than the wheel, such as your coffee cup.
Cognitive: Thinking about anything other than driving - daydreaming or doing social rehearsals in your mind (“Here’s what I’m going to say to my boss when I get into work”)
These distractions use cognitive energy that could be better applied to concentrating on driving safely. In addition, scientific research tells us that our brains cannot do two cognitive-heavy tasks simultaneously, so eliminating the distraction will eliminate this exposure.
Safe Driving Tips
Habits begin as behaviors that are chosen and performed routinely. To change the way we think about driving safely, we must create safe driving habits.
Other tips to improve road safety include:
Stop every two hours to stretch your legs and refresh your mind
Plan your route in advance and allow plenty of travel time
Always wear your seatbelt anytime you are in a vehicle
Search the roadway to be alert to situations requiring quick action
Avoid taking medications that may make you drowsy before operating a vehicle
Set a realistic goal for how long you can drive in one day
Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Thank you
Thank you to our employees for committing to follow these safe driving habits to make the road safer for themselves and others. At Aldridge, safety is a core value and we continue to train and educate our employees each day to ensure that at home or at work, nobody gets hurt.
