Just Drive VA Just Drive VA

JST DRVVIRGINIAJULY 2011

WWW.COMMONHEALTH.VIRGINIA.GOV

JST DRVVIRGINIAJULY 2011

WWW.COMMONHEALTH.VIRGINIA.GOV

Just Drive VA Just Drive VA

This CommonHealth program will This CommonHealth program will address 3 main points address 3 main points

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving Impaired Driving Impaired Driving Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving

Stay safe when driving for work, errands Stay safe when driving for work, errands or pleasureor pleasure

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

A Virginia Tech study reported that 80% of all A Virginia Tech study reported that 80% of all crashes and 65% of all near crashed involved a crashes and 65% of all near crashed involved a distracted driver!distracted driver!

What is Distracted Driving?What is Distracted Driving? Distracted Driving is defined as anything that takes your Distracted Driving is defined as anything that takes your

eyes or mind off of the task of driving. eyes or mind off of the task of driving.

What do you think are some distracting behaviors? What do you think are some distracting behaviors? Changing the radio stationChanging the radio station Reaching for an objectReaching for an object Driving drowsyDriving drowsy Looking at an external object Looking at an external object ReadingReading Dialing a phoneDialing a phone TextingTexting Applying makeupApplying makeup Other Ideas??????Other Ideas??????

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

Can we all agree that this is distracted driving?Can we all agree that this is distracted driving?

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

But, how many of us check and take that one important phone call? Or look down for a moment to insert a CD or change the station?

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving Vision is a very important sense for safe Vision is a very important sense for safe

driving.driving. Drivers using hands-free phones have a Drivers using hands-free phones have a

tendency to “look at” but not “see” objects. tendency to “look at” but not “see” objects. Handheld phones decrease what eyes process, Handheld phones decrease what eyes process,

and take one hand off and take one hand off

the steering wheel!the steering wheel!

Distracted DrivingDistracted Driving

Estimates indicate that drivers using cell Estimates indicate that drivers using cell phones look but fail to see up to 50% of the phones look but fail to see up to 50% of the information in their driving environment. information in their driving environment.

Drivers are looking out the windshield, but Drivers are looking out the windshield, but they do not process everything.they do not process everything.

Make your vehicle a “No Phone Zone.” Make your vehicle a “No Phone Zone.”

Driving for WorkDriving for Work

The most dangerous part of the day for any The most dangerous part of the day for any employee is the time they spend in their employee is the time they spend in their vehicle.vehicle.

Crashes are the #1 cause of workplace death. Crashes are the #1 cause of workplace death. Decide to JUST DRIVE!Decide to JUST DRIVE! Eliminate distractions when driving to and Eliminate distractions when driving to and

from the office.from the office. Take great care when driving for any work Take great care when driving for any work

related events.related events.

Impaired DrivingImpaired Driving

Alcohol or drug impairment.Alcohol or drug impairment. Anytime we drive when sleepy, angry or Anytime we drive when sleepy, angry or

distressed.distressed. Impaired driving delays reaction or braking Impaired driving delays reaction or braking

time and can cause drivers to speed without time and can cause drivers to speed without realizing it!realizing it!

Drowsy DrivingDrowsy Driving

60% of adult drivers say they 60% of adult drivers say they have driven a vehicle while have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy. feeling drowsy.

More than 1/3 have actually More than 1/3 have actually fallen asleep at the wheel! fallen asleep at the wheel!

National Sleep Foundation’s pollNational Sleep Foundation’s poll

Drowsy DrivingDrowsy Driving

4% admit they have had an accident or near 4% admit they have had an accident or near accident because they dozed off or were too accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive.tired to drive.

Shift workers whose sleep is disrupted by Shift workers whose sleep is disrupted by working at night or working long or irregular working at night or working long or irregular hours have delayed reaction times and risk hours have delayed reaction times and risk crashes.crashes.

National Sleep Foundation’s poll National Sleep Foundation’s poll contcont……

Drowsy DrivingDrowsy Driving

Rest when not working, plan Rest when not working, plan stops when driving.stops when driving.

Before you push on for “just Before you push on for “just another fifty miles”, keep in another fifty miles”, keep in mind that sleepy drivers can be mind that sleepy drivers can be just as dangerous as drunken just as dangerous as drunken ones.ones.

Stay alert; it can save your Stay alert; it can save your life!life!

Drinking and DrivingDrinking and Driving

Plan ahead for any special occasion, celebration or Plan ahead for any special occasion, celebration or night out.night out.

If you plan to drink when you leave home, have an If you plan to drink when you leave home, have an alternative way home sorted out in advance:alternative way home sorted out in advance:

Program a taxi company's phone number into your cell Program a taxi company's phone number into your cell phone.phone.

Choose a designated sober driver.Choose a designated sober driver. Sleep on a friend's sofa. Sleep on a friend's sofa. Call someone who can come and get you. See if your Call someone who can come and get you. See if your

area offers a safe ride program.area offers a safe ride program. Don't accept a ride from someone else who is impaired.Don't accept a ride from someone else who is impaired.

Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving

Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle OperationsSafe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations defines defines defensive drivingdefensive driving as “driving to save lives, as “driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others.”you and the actions of others.”

Watching out for the other guy is one of the best Watching out for the other guy is one of the best things you can do when you are behind the steering things you can do when you are behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. wheel of a vehicle.

Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes.vehicle crashes.

Young children use seat belts more if the driver uses Young children use seat belts more if the driver uses a seat belt.a seat belt.

Almost 40% of children riding with unbelted drivers Almost 40% of children riding with unbelted drivers were themselves unrestrained. were themselves unrestrained.

Remember to set a safe example.Remember to set a safe example. Make Make Buckling Up Automatic for Everyone!Buckling Up Automatic for Everyone!

Virginia LawVirginia Law Seat belts save lives! And remember….Virginia Seat belts save lives! And remember….Virginia

state law requires that:state law requires that: Adults in the front seat be properly restrainedAdults in the front seat be properly restrained Children under the age of 18 in all seating Children under the age of 18 in all seating

positions be properly restrained (as of July 2010)positions be properly restrained (as of July 2010) Children under the age of 8 be secured in the Children under the age of 8 be secured in the

appropriate child restraint device (like a booster appropriate child restraint device (like a booster seat or car seat)seat or car seat)

Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving Check Mirrors (and adjust – if needed).Check Mirrors (and adjust – if needed). How many of us drive unfamiliar cars for work? How many of us drive unfamiliar cars for work?

Adjusting mirrors is a must when in a strange car! Adjusting mirrors is a must when in a strange car! Attach blind spot mirrors to each of your side mirrors in Attach blind spot mirrors to each of your side mirrors in

your personal car.your personal car. Never hang around in the blind spot of another car or Never hang around in the blind spot of another car or

truck. If you can’t see a truck’s mirrors they can’t see truck. If you can’t see a truck’s mirrors they can’t see you!you!

Leave a safety cushion of space between cars when Leave a safety cushion of space between cars when stopped. stopped.

Don’t tailgate when driving.Don’t tailgate when driving. Always use your signals (Failing to signal is a violation Always use your signals (Failing to signal is a violation

in Virginia).in Virginia).

Defensive DrivingDefensive Driving

Never assume that other drivers will follow the rules of the Never assume that other drivers will follow the rules of the road. Be alert and cautious. road. Be alert and cautious.

Always yAlways yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists.ield to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. When buying your next vehicle, When buying your next vehicle, consider some of these consider some of these

lifesaving technologies:lifesaving technologies: Side-impact air bagsSide-impact air bags Electronic stability controlElectronic stability control Blind-zone warningBlind-zone warning Adaptive headlightsAdaptive headlights

Go to Go to www.intellichoice.comwww.intellichoice.com for more information. for more information.

Enjoy Virginia DrivingEnjoy Virginia Driving Virginia Byways

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/prog-byways-sites.asp

Virginia Main Street Districts

http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/CommunityDevelopmentRevitalization/VMS_Promotional_Publications_Brochures.htm

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

http://www.cbbt.com/

Jamestown-Scotland Ferry http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/ferry-jamestown.asp

Enjoy Virginia DrivingEnjoy Virginia Driving

Virginia Beach http://www.vbfun.com/visitors/

Nelson Scenic Loop www.nelsonscenicloop.com

Covered Bridges of VA http://www.virginiadot.org/info/faq-covbridgemap.asp

Questions?Questions?

Thank you for participating! Thank you for participating!

Visit the CommonVisit the CommonHealth Health website at website at www.commonhealth.virginia.govwww.commonhealth.virginia.gov for more for more

resources.resources.