2. “Changing Driving Habits Since 1952”
SmithSystemDriverImprovementInstitute,Inc.Arlington,Texas76006USA
Truck and Large Vehicle Presentation
3. Smith System History:
Developed by
Harold Smith in 1948
Established as a
company in 1952
First training method
dedicated to educating
experienced drivers in
collision avoidance
3
4. 4
We Have Worked With:
44
Utilities
Trucking
Petro-Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals
Package Delivery
Government Entities
Telecommunications
Over Half of the Fortune 500 Companies
5. Traffic Collision Triangle:
Dollars Spent $299.5 Billion
Vehicles Involved 9,411,520
Total Collisions 5,338,000
Unsafe Acts ? ? ?
Deaths 32,367
Injuries 2,220,000
Citations Issued 59,828,000
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2011
For each death
there are:
$9,253,252
1,848
291
165
69
1
5
9. Key 1. Aim High In Steering®
Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
Key 4. Leave Yourself An Out®
Key 5. Make Sure They See You®
9
10. Key 1. Aim High In Steering®
• An animal's eyesight is suited to its needs
• Average drivers use 3 to 6 seconds of eye lead time
• Expand your eye lead to a minimum of 15 seconds
15 seconds
6 seconds
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11. Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
• Look 15 seconds ahead
• Scan at least one of your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds
• Achieve a circle of awareness
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12. Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
• Relevant and non-relevant objects
• Position your vehicle so you can see
• Maintain the proper following distance at all times
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13. Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
• Central vision is approximately 3° of clear visibility
• Peripheral vision is approximately 180° of visibility
13
14. Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
• Avoid blank and fixed stares
• Avoid focusing on any object for more than 2 seconds
14
15. Key 4. Leave Yourself An Out®
• Avoid traveling in traffic clusters
• Surround yourself with space
• Anticipate the actions of others
15
16. Creating Space on the Roadway
• When stopped, the cushion of space surrounding your
vehicle is diminished
• Although your vehicle is not moving, your eyes
should remain active 16
17. When Stopped at a Light…
• Look at least 15 seconds ahead for potential problems
• Turning vehicles, cross traffic, pedestrians/bicyclists
• Drivers to the sides and rear who may be distracted
17
18. Front Position
• How can your space be regained?
• Check Left-Right-Left before you move out
• Why do you check left first?
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19. Front Position
• After scanning the intersection, proceed with caution
• By holding your acceleration, you create space
around the vehicle
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20. Front Position – Aggressive Drivers
• Should the drivers on the sides remain next to your
vehicle, you have space ahead and behind but not to
the sides
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21. Front Position – Aggressive Drivers
• Ease off the accelerator and allow the vehicles on your
sides to overtake
• Now you have space to maneuver
21
22. Front Position – Slow Drivers
• Check Left-Right-Left before you move out
• Proceed when safe to do so
22
23. Front Position – Slow Drivers
• Accelerate at your normal pace
• Now you have space to maneuver
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24. Tailgaters
• When space is available, oftentimes faster moving
vehicles will overtake you
• If they remain, encourage them to overtake by
gradually reducing your speed 24
26. Center Position
• As the vehicle ahead starts to move, take your foot off
the brake and hesitate to allow the leading vehicle to
move forward
26
27. Center Position
• Taking your foot off the brake pedal will prevent the
driver in the rear from becoming irritated
• As your space cushion begins to build in front, scan
the intersection and proceed with caution 27
28. Rear Position
• Hesitate to allow the vehicles ahead to begin moving
• As space begins to form, scan the intersection before
entering and proceed with caution
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29. Following Distance
• Verify your following distance by using a line on the
opposite side of the intersection
• Start counting when the back bumper of the vehicle
ahead crosses the line 29
30. Following Distance
• Stop counting when the front of your vehicle reaches
the line
• Adjust your following distance as necessary
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31. Key 5. Make Sure They See You®
• Seek eye contact
• Use your warning devices
• Proper timing is essential
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32. Key 1. Aim High In Steering®
Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
Key 4. Leave Yourself An Out®
Key 5. Make Sure They See You®
Remember
Look ahead a minimum of 15 seconds
4 second minimum following distance
Scan at least one of your mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds
Avoid focusing on any object for more than 2 seconds
Surround yourself with space
Seek eye contact
32
33. “Changing Driving Habits Since 1952”
SmithSystemDriverImprovementInstitute,Inc.Arlington,Texas76006USA
Truck and Large Vehicle Presentation
33
34. Many fleets report that more than 30% of their
incidents happen while backing
Can We
Remove
Reverse?
to Safe Backing
34
35. Backing unnecessarily
Blind areas
Vehicle design
Infrequent practice
Limited mental preparation for backing
Inadequate information during backing
Why Do Backing Collisions Happen?
35
36. Key 1. Aim High In Steering®
• When possible avoid backing
• Think about your departure upon your arrival
• Select the safest parking location and backing path
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37. Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
• Look for all hazards and consider backing upon arrival
• Use a guide when available
• When in doubt Get Out And Look – G.O.A.L.
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38. Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
• Avoid staring at one object; scan the entire area
• Do not forget the front and the sides
• Back slowly
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39. Key 4. Leave Yourself An Out®
• Choose the site with the fewest hazards
• Cut no closer to other objects than necessary
• Back only as far as you must
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40. Key 5. Make Sure They See You®
• Seek eye contact
• Use warning devices
• If you don’t know, DON’T GO!
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41. Key 1. Aim High In Steering®
Key 2. Get The Big Picture®
Key 3. Keep Your Eyes Moving®
Key 4. Leave Yourself An Out®
Key 5. Make Sure They See You®
Choose the safest location possible
Search for all potential hazards
Scan, do not fixate
Surround yourself with space
Use warning devices - Seek eye contact
If you must back...
When possible, avoid backing!
41
Developed by Harold Smith in 1948Techniques developed by Harold Smith in 1952 and refined with the help from a writer and OphthalmologistEstablished as a company in 1952First company to teach experienced drivers how to avoid collisions in the U.S. and it is also believed in the worldFirst training method dedicated to educating experienced drivers in collision avoidanceSponsored by Ford Motor Co. beginning in the early 50’s and continuing for many years
UtilitiesTruckingPetro-ChemicalsPharmaceuticalsPackage DeliveryTelecommunicationsGovernment EntitiesMany of the Worlds Largest Companies
SPACE for the vehicleCreate Space to maneuver their vehicle away from conflictVISIBILITY for the driverProvide Visibility to detect the potential for danger with other vehicles or fixed objects TIME to make decisionsEnsure the driver Time to react to volatile and complex driving situations
An animal’s eyesight is suited to its needsAverage drivers use 3 to 6 seconds as eye lead timeExpand your eye lead time to a minimum of 15 secondsDemonstrate: The benefits of aiming high
Look 15 seconds aheadScan at least one of your mirrors every 5 to 8 secondsAchieve a circle of awareness
Relevant and non-relevant objectsPosition your vehicle so you can seeDemonstrate: Eliminating vision barriersSimulate: A truck (book), car (hand) and motorcycle (thumb)3. Maintain the proper following distance Describe: Proper following distanceDefine: Not only allows space for stopping but also time to gather information.Refer: To Key 2 Following Distance Diagram
Central vision is approximately 3° of clear visibilityPeripheral vision is approximately 180° of visibilityDemonstrate: Central “cone” and peripheral visionExample: Use a page, sign or other item with words on it.
1. Avoid blank and fixed staresDescribe: Their nature and their effect2. Avoid focusing on an object for more than 2 secondsDemonstrate: The fixed stare problemExample: Student looks at book while instructor establishes peripheral vision limits with hand 90° from face. The student them loses the hand while reading.Emphasize: To keep information flowing and to keep stares from forming, move your eyes every 2 seconds.
Avoid traveling in traffic clustersSurround yourself with spaceDemonstrate: Ways to create space on the roadwayRefer: To Key 4. Coin Demonstration Diagram 3. Anticipate the actions of others
Seek eye contactUse your warning devicesWhat are our communication devices?Solicit: List from group3. Proper timing is essentialExplain: Learning to use them properly is a skillExpound: On misuse of horn or turn indicators
Here is a brief recap of The 5 Keys®Review each Key® and its main theme
When possible avoid reversingThink about your departure upon arrivalSelect the safest parking location and reversing path
Look for all hazards and consider reversing upon arrivalUse a guide when availableWhen in doubt get out and look
Avoid staring at any one object; scan the entire areaDo not forget the front and the sidesReverse slowly
Choose the site with the fewest hazardsManeuver no closer to other objects than necessaryReverse only as far as you mustWhat parking space would you choose?Why?
Seek eye contactUse warning devicesIf you do not know, do not go!
Here is a brief recap of The 5 Keys®Review each Key® and its main theme