Vehicle Driving safety Tool Box Talks Free Download
The first rule of driving is safety. Whether driving for your employer or for yourself, never take chances that may prove to be unsafe. If there are passengers in your vehicle, don’t forget, you are responsible for their lives as well as your own. Stay calm and alert while you are at the wheel. If you become sleepy or don’t feel well while driving, pull over and stop at the first available chance. Courtesy while driving is another name for safe behavior. In addition to having a respect for others on the road, obey the speed limit and all other laws. Allow plenty of distance between your car and other vehicles and always signal your intentions at the appropriate moments. If a tailgater tries to force you to speed up, slow down and let that vehicle pass. Most importantly, remember: alcohol and driving do not mix. Neither do, drugs and driving—including medication that may make you sleepy. If you are in an intoxicated condition or even in an emotional state that will affect your judgment—such as extreme anger—never, get in on the driver’s side of the car. While driving in a normal state, however, there are still hazards that may be difficult to negotiate.
Here are a few fairly common emergency situations and how you can handle them:
- If your brakes should fail when you try to use them, stay calm. Pump the pedal; this may restore the brake. If it does not, you can use the parking brake, but don’t jam it too hard because if your wheels are turned this can cause a spin. You can also try downshifting to slow the car. If all else fails and the situation is extreme, sideswipe a curb, guardrail or some other stationery object, rather than hitting another car head on.
- A collision with an oncoming vehicle is one of the most dangerous types of accidents you can have. Your best chances of survival are in dodging to the right. Even if you will hit something along the road or another car going your way you are more likely to survive than in a head-on crash.
- Another frightening possibility when driving is that your accelerator might get stuck. If this occurs, you should try to unstick the pedal by pulling up with the toe of your shoe. Sometimes tapping the accelerator quickly will do the trick. Do not take your eyes off the road to try to free the accelerator. If the pedal doesn’t release, shift into neutral or press down on the clutch. Pull over, stop, and shut off the ignition. When ever this situation starts to occur get the vehicle into a mechanic to fix the problem it will not go away by itself.
- Blowouts are a pretty common type of vehicular accident. If a front tire should blow out, the car will pull to the side that the blowout is on. You need to steer against the pull. Don’t put on the brake. Instead, hang on to the wheel and try to stay in your lane. Slow down a little at a time and pull off the road.
- If you are forced off the road into deep water, escape through the window as quickly as possible. If power windows have short-circuited and you are stuck inside, try the door. Keep pushing against water pressure until water begins to fill the compartment and the pressure equalizes. The door will then be easier to open.
- Everyone has stories about going into a skid, particularly in nasty weather. In this situation, never put your foot on the brake. Instead, take your foot off the gas and turn the wheel into the skid if you have a rear wheel drive vehicle, if you have a front wheel drive slow down until the wheel grab. This will let you regain control. Be ready, during nasty weather for the unexpected.
