Safe Vehicle Operation

Bureau of Workers’ Compensation

PA Training for Health & Safety
(PATHS)
In Inclement Weather

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 Seat Belts

 Buckling up is the single most effective thing

you can do to protect yourself in a crash!

 In 2008, seat belts saved more than 13,000

lives nationwide. From 2004 to 2008, seat belts
saved over 75,000 lives - enough people to fill
a large sports arena.

 In 2011 alone, seat belts saved an estimated

11,949 lives*

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 Seat Belts

 During a crash, being buckled up helps keep

you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being
completely thrown out of a vehicle is almost
always deadly.

 Seat belts are the best defense against

impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.

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 Airbags

Air bags are designed to work with seat

belts, not replace them!

If you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be

thrown into a rapidly opening frontal air bag;
a movement of such force could injure or even
kill you.

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 Setting Up

 Adjust your seat so your arms are slightly bent

at the elbows when gripping the wheel.

 Keep your hands at the quarter to 3:00 position

on the steering wheel.

 Hold the wheel tightly enough so your palms do

not slip off.

 Adjust side mirrors so you can either see the

door handles or angled away to cover blind
spots.

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 You and Your Vehicle

 Prepare yourself – emergency kit (e.g. extra

clothing, energy bars, gloves, etc.).
 Sunglasses – important!
 What to wear? Don’t be the “Michelin Man” while
driving.
 Know your capabilities & experience:
 Driving a State car or another unfamiliar vehicle
 Preparing vehicle – wipers, tires, windshield washer,
snow cleaned off.
 Know your equipment:
 e. g. ABS brakes

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 Vehicle Maintenance

 Neglecting maintenance
can cause crashes.
 Monitor condition of and air
pressure in your tires: not
doing so could cause a
blowout or a flat.
 Change wiper blades
regularly.
 Check your owner's manual
for a maintenance
schedule and stick to it.

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 Tire Maintenance

 Check tire pressure regularly including the

spare (at least once a month).
 Inspect tires for:
→ Uneven wear patterns
→ Cracks
→ Foreign objects
→ Other signs of wear
 Ensure tire valves have valve
caps.

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 Seasonal Changes

 Winter driving = slippery roads, visibility

issues, cold, etc.
 Spring = rain can cause slippery roads.
 Summer = high temps can cause vehicle
problems; more traffic on roads.
 Fall = wet leaves on road can make it slippery.
 Daylight saving time, sun's position in sky
changes = darkness and glare.

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 Rain

 Drive slowly and carefully – especially on

curves.

 Steer & brake with a light touch.

 When slowing/stopping be careful not to lock

the wheels while braking – could cause skid.

 Pressure on the brake pedal (ABS or non-ABS).

 Adjust your speed to the wet road conditions.

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 Hydroplaning

 Occurs when water in front of tires builds up

faster than vehicle’s weight can push it out of
the way.
 Water pressure causes vehicle to rise up and
slide on thin layer of water between tires and
road.
 Can cause skidding, drifting out of lane, leaving
roadway.
 To avoid: keep tires properly inflated, maintain
good tread, slow down, avoid puddles.

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 Hydroplaning

 If hydroplaning do not brake or turn suddenly.

 Ease foot off gas until vehicle slows down and

you can feel road again.

 If need to brake without anti-lock brakes, do so

gently with light pumping actions.

 If vehicle has anti-lock brakes, brake normally.

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 Skids

 Remain calm.
 Ease your foot off the gas.
 Steer in the direction you want the front of
the vehicle to go (“steering into the skid”).
 If vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, avoid
slamming on the brakes.
 If vehicle has ABS, brake firmly while steering
into skid.

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 Winter Driving

 Ensure vehicle wiper blades are in good

condition & washer fluid is filled.
 Ensure vehicle battery is in good condition and
appropriately charged.
 Clear snow/ice from all windows, lights, hood,
trunk, and top of your vehicle before driving.
 Adjust your speed accordingly.
 Check tire pressure regularly.
 Dress warmly with layered clothing that is
loose-fitting and lightweight.

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Windshield & Roof Clear?

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Have a Good Ice Scraper?

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Is This YOU?

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 Winter Driving Safety

 Headlights on
 No cruise control
 Gas tank at least half full
 Air in recirculate mode can increase humidity
inside the vehicle

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Winter Driving Safety-Remember

 Bridges & overpasses and ramps freeze sooner

than roadways
 Passing lanes on interstates are not well
maintained during snow events
 Freeze/refreeze ----- > “Black Ice”
 Curves are obviously more treacherous

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 Watch Out for . . .

 Snow plows & cinder trucks

 Snow blowers
 4WD
 Snowmobiles and ATVs

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 Watch Out for . . .
 If you are involved in an accident, use caution getting out of
car: – Others may skid just like you did trying to avoid your
mishap
 Children
 Pedestrians
 Parking lots in winter can be dangerous
-Poor visibility
-Huge snow piles
-Overambitious “Joe Snowplow”

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Watch Out for . . .

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 Unsafe Conditions

 Physics:
“Ice = Slippery”

 Speed
 Momentum
 Inertia
 Mass
 Acceleration/Deceleration
 Temperature

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 Unsafe Conditions

 Speed. One of the two

things you have control
over. The other is
direction

 Momentum. Is the
product of the object’s
mass or weight and its
velocity.

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 Unsafe Conditions

 Inertia. An object
continues in its state of
rest, or of uniform motion

in a straight line, unless it

is acted upon by a net
external force.

 Mass. The vehicle weight.

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 Unsafe Conditions

 Acceleration/Deceleration.
Speeding up or slowing
down.

 Temperature. Extremes
may change the coefficient
of friction assigned to a
road surface.

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 Winter Driving Tips

If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:

▪ Stay in vehicle.
▪ Display trouble sign (ex: brightly colored
cloth on antenna).
▪ Occasionally run engine with heater on to
keep warm.
▪ Keep exhaust pipe free of snow & open a
window to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
▪ Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

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 Winter Driving Tips

If in vehicle and stranded due to road conditions:

▪ Do minor exercises to keep up circulation.

▪ Clap hands & move arms & legs frequently.
▪ Try not to stay in one position too long.
▪ Use newspapers, maps, mats, etc. for warmth.
▪ Avoid drinking fluids containing caffeine or
alcohol, they can quicken effects of cold.

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 Winter Driving Tips

Stopping Distances & Wet/Snowpack/Icy Roads:

 Vehicle may travel 4x stopping distance than

on dry road.
 Dry pavement vehicle traveling 70 mph
requires 600 feet to stop; wet road requires
800 feet.
 Snowpack road requires approximately 1300
feet stopping distance @ 70 mph.
 Icy road requires 2500 feet @ 70 mph.

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 Winter Driving Tips

Winterizing Vehicles:

 Ensure ice scraper and windshield de-icer on

board.
 Carry spare set of wiper blades.
 Carry kitty litter, oil dry, or sand for traction.
 Carry blankets, flashlight, road flares.
 Have lock de-icer available.

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 *RUA Safe Driver?
Collision Prevention Formula

Recognize the hazard:

 Scan ahead and behind your vehicle.
 Check your mirrors every 3-5 seconds.
 Use “what if” strategy to keep alert & spot
hazards.

*National
Safety Council

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 *RUA Safe Driver?

Understanding the defense:

 Know what to do to avoid a traffic hazard.
 Know the consequences of your driving choices.
 Know the basic defenses =
- Use effective scanning patterns
- Slow down
- Use a safe following distance

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 *RUA Safe Driver?

Act Correctly, in time:

 Always stay alert – focus on the driving task.

 Choose the safest driving maneuver to avoid a

crash.

 Remember: other drivers may act in time, but not

correctly.

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 Summary

 Be Prepared  Stopping Distance

 Practice  Brake Sparingly
 Be Alert  Leave early or arrive
late
 Slow Down
 Know Your abilities and
 Increase Following equipment
 distance

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 Safe Driving Quiz

http://www.justdrivepa.org/Safe-Driver-Quiz

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 Contact Information

Health & Safety Training Specialists

1171 South Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
(717) 772-1635
RA-LI-BWC-PATHS@pa.gov

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https://www.facebook.com/BWCPATHS

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Questions

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