Driving Blind SpotsDriving Blind Spots

BlindspotsBlindspotsin your “Space in your “Space

Cushion”Cushion”

What actually happened – Blind Spots About 1645 hours on 13th February 2008, a contractor water truck, knocked over a three-year-old child as it departed after having supplied water to villagers (a routine community service done by PDO, Oman) . The child subsequently died from head injuries. The water truck driver and his mate were not aware of the incident and were only told on arrival at their base camp that a child had been fatally injured. The incident investigation revealed the following:•The child was in front of the vehicle and was not seen by both the truck driver and his mate as the tanker’s large snout creates a significant front blind zone. •Both the driver and his mate had checked the back and sides but not the front of the truck prior to its departure to the base camp. •Both the driver and his mate did not appreciate the risks posed by the front blind zone, which was created by the vehicles snout.•There is no procedures to manage front blind spots for vehicles.

Message: Blind spots are all around the vehicle (front, sides, back and underneath). Vehicle drivers & mates should only drive off after checking that is within the blind spot areas.

• Drivers’ mates should walk around vehicles prior to its departure. Learning from this accident should be shared Group-wide, and a standard developed to manage the front blind zones for vehicles.

5’13’

19’

21’

19’

26’

45’

19’

78’

53’

Lookingover

toolbox

38’Looking over headrest

thru side window

Footprint of Blind Spots Around a Typical Work

Truck

Note: Measurements taken on flat ground with Dodge D1500 Supercab, with & without toolbox and 5’ 7” driver.

Distances shown are the point at which driver can see the ground.

Passenger Side Blind Spot

Anything “hiding” in this area?

3’4”2’9”

Passenger Side Blind Spot

‘could be…

Even in the side view mirror there is nothing visible!

Blind Spot

Everything OK driving around the corner of this vessel?

Pump Stand

Oops...

Everything looks good out the front….

Passenger Side Front Blind Spot

Passenger Side Front Blind Spot

Except...

We have blind spotsWe have blind spotson the driver’son the driver’sside, too...side, too...

they’re smaller…they’re smaller…

Pressure Gauge

but just asbut just asREAL!REAL!

As the driver prepares to turn left and enter the road, he’s typically looking along the intersection...

… not down below.That’s why a marker or barrier is needed here.

Don’t get “Blindsided”

• Minimize backing.• Protect your “space cushion”.• Recognize BIG blind spots exist on all sides.• Install markers or guards to protect or warn of potential

hazards.

The following photographs(in next slide) contains significant number of road transport hazards.

Please try to:1. Come up with as many hazards as possible (e.g.

are drivers competent, pedestrians, etc…)• Consider previous Incidents or Near Misses

2. Write them on a sheet of paper.Have you come up with the most invisible hazards?

Exercise: Road transport Let’s test our blind spot

understanding

INDENTIFY THE HAZARDS/BLIND SPOTS

Exercise: Road transport Let’s test our blind spot

understanding

Now that you know what happened – can you answer the following questions?

1. Were the controls adequate? What were the gaps?2. Explain how the incident could have been prevented?3. How would you address Blind-Spot during driving?4. What can you and your colleagues do differently?

What controls do we need to put in place to prevent a similar incident happening again?

Exercise: Road transport Let’s test our blind spot

understanding