Defensive Driving
Commercial Motor Vehicles
Session Objectives
You will be able to:
• Recognize driving hazards and
dangerous conditions
• Avoid potential accidents
• Inspect and maintain your vehicle
• Operate your vehicle safely
• Respond to emergencies and accidents
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
Motor Vehicle Injury and
Death Are Preventable
• Around 5,000 CMVrelated fatalities
• More than 120,000
CMV-related injuries
• More than 650 truck
drivers died on the job
• Truck drivers have
more nonfatal injuries
than workers in any
other occupation
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Driving Hazards
• Reckless driving
• Distracted drivers
• Road rage
• Fatigue
• Poor vehicle operating
condition
• Alcohol or drugs
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Dangerous Conditions
• Bad weather
conditions—rain, snow,
ice, severe winds, and
fog
• Road conditions
• Poor lighting or glaring
sunlight
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Dangerous Conditions (cont.)
• Heavy traffic
• Busy intersections
• Accidents
• Shifting cargo
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Be a Defensive Driver
• Recognize hazardous driving situations
• Assume other drivers will make mistakes
• Make adjustments if a hazard develops
• Look ahead for approaching hazards
• Watch vehicles to your side and rear
• Scan the road before changing speed
or direction
• Always use your turn signals
• Drive with your lights on
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Get Rest and Avoid Fatigue
• Get some sleep
• Take frequent breaks
• Keep cab
well ventilated
• Adjust your vehicle’s
environment
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Seat Belts Save Lives
• More than 110,000 lives saved in 25 years
• Prevent crashing into dashboard
• Keep you inside vehicle
• Strong bones take shock
instead of delicate organs
• Better chance of remaining conscious
• Keep you behind wheel if you swerve
or brake suddenly
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
Drug Use
When on duty, never
possess or use:
• Opiates
• Amphetamines
• Narcotics
• Alcohol
• Any other substance
that makes you an
unsafe driver
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Driving Hazard Exercise
Match the hazardous drivers
to the correct potential hazards
DRIVERS
HAZARD
Reckless drivers
Create road rage situations
Distracted drivers
React slower
Aggressive drivers
Tailgate
Fatigued drivers
Unaware of surroundings
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Driving Hazards—
Any Questions?
• Any questions about
driving hazards and
dangerous conditions?
• Any questions about
avoiding potential
accidents?
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Pre-Drive Inspection
• Horn, lights, and turn
signals
• Clean windows,
mirrors, and lights
• Tire tread and air
pressure
• Leaks under vehicle
• Brakes and steering
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Maintain Your Vehicle
• Regular tune-ups
• Oil changes
• Antifreeze levels
• Brakes
• Battery
• Compressed
air system
• Tire changes
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Cargo Securement
• Cargo must be properly distributed and secured
• Check within first 50 miles and make adjustments if
necessary
• Recheck if:
• There is a change in duty status
• The vehicle has been driven 3 hours or 150 miles
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
Conduct Start-Up/
Back-Up Check
• Walk around your
•
•
•
•
•
vehicle
Check blind areas
on right and front
Adjust mirrors
After checking, move
vehicle
Start up slowly
Tap horn or recruit
signal person
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Fueling
While fueling a CMV,
never:
• Fuel a CMV with
engine running
• Smoke or expose any
open flame
• Fuel unless the nozzle
and intake pipe are
in contact
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Right-of-Way
• Entering traffic,
merging, turning
left or right
• Do not force other
drivers to brake
or steer
• Assume other drivers
will not see you
• Move only after
“right-of-way” has
been given to you
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Using and Changing Lanes
• Keep a safe following distance
• Scan ahead
• Flash brake lights
• Scan blind spot before changing lanes
• Clean and adjust mirrors
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Negotiating Curves
• Understand how and
•
•
•
•
•
why rollovers occur
Reduce speed before
entering curve
Stay off the shoulder
Ensure cargo is
secured
Top-heavy cargo more
likely to roll over
Trailers roll first
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Negotiating Downgrades
• Break system
•
•
•
•
maintenance
Gear selection
Light brake pressure
Do not apply trailer
brakes only
Check brake function
before descending
long, steep grades
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
Crossing Intersections
• Assume cross traffic may not obey control
signs or signals
• Allow enough time for your entire vehicle
and trailer to clear the road
• Approaching drivers may not realize you
have a trailer attached
• Keep side lights and reflectors clean
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Making Turns
• Turns are more difficult
due to vehicle size
• Move to right lane
and signal
• Wait for vehicles
in other lanes
• Avoid improper
tracking
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Crossing Railroad Tracks
• Stop 15 to 50 feet of,
and not closer than
15 feet to, the tracks
• Stop and look
both ways
• Do not shift gears
when crossing tracks
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Passing
• Make sure no one is
•
•
•
•
•
passing you
Signal intention to pass
Watch driver you are
passing
Watch for vehicles
entering road
Watch approaching
traffic
Do not get into a race
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Pedestrians
• Expect the unexpected
• Pedestrians have
•
•
•
•
difficulty judging
vehicle speed
Pedestrians assume
you see them
Make sure they give
you right-of-way
Prevent improper
trailer tracking
Scan blind spots
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Reduced Traction
• Increase your
•
•
•
•
following distance
Slow down
Apply brakes gently
and steer smoothly
Brakes are more likely
to lock up when lightly
loaded
Slide sideways on
banked curves
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Reduced Visibility
• Slow down
• Watch for stalled or
slow-moving vehicles
in front of you
• Turn on fog lamps or
emergency flashers
• Keep lights and
windshield clean
• Get off the road
and wait
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
True or False?

1. Once cargo is properly distributed and secured,
you should not check it because it may then
become unsecured.


Cargo must be checked within first 50 miles.
2. Before startup or backup, you should walk
around your vehicle to check for hazards.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
True or False? (cont.)

3. The most important rule in lane usage is to
maintain a safe following distance.

4. You should stop between 5 and 15 feet of
railroad tracks.


Stop 15 to 50 feet before tracks.
5. The gear you use for descending a grade
should be no higher than that required for
ascending the same grade.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706
Safe Driving Habits—
Any Questions?
• Any questions
regarding inspections
and basic maintenance
of your vehicle?
• Any questions
regarding how to
operate your vehicle
safely?
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Carry Emergency Supplies
• Tire jack and spare tire
• Flares
• Flashlight
• First-aid and tool kits
• Jumper cables
• Spare lightbulbs
• Spare hoses
• Gloves
• Pry bar
• Fire extinguisher
• Spare fuses
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Emergency Stopping
• Turn on flashers and
•
•
•
•
coast to shoulder
Set up emergency
warning signals
Call for help
Use fire extinguisher
when necessary
Replace fuses or bulbs
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Emergency Signals
• Activate the vehicle’s flashers
• Place warning device within 10 feet
of vehicle toward approaching traffic
• Place second device 100 feet away toward
approaching traffic
• Place third device 100 feet away
• Never attach flares to your vehicle
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Safe Driving Conditions—
Any Questions?
• Are there any
questions about how
to respond to vehicle
emergencies and
accidents?
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Key Points
• Inspect and maintain your vehicle
• Know driving hazards and dangerous
conditions
• Become a proud defensive driver
• Wear your seat belt
• Follow safe driving practices in all driving
conditions
• Keep your lights on and use turn signals
• Know how to respond to emergencies
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0706