Fleet Services Full-size Cargo Van Training

Transcription

1 Fleet Services Full-size argo Van Training Module Overview ll Fleet Services customers must first complete Fleet Services asic river Training, review Program Policy Manual for rivers, and Fleet Services argo Van Training before driving a 2-passenger or 5-passenger cargo van. llow 30 to 45 minutes to complete this module. The module consists of three sections. You are required to take a short test on completion of the training. You will need to answer all questions correctly before receiving credit. Module Objectives fter completing this module, you should be able to identify or explain the following facts regarding cargo vans: The major differences between driving a van and driving a car The steps for conducting an initial safety inspection of a van The effect a van s center of gravity has on its road behavior How a van s design affects the driver s viewing perspective The importance of maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when driving a van The major overall safety considerations to driving a van

2 Section 1 Full-size cargo vans are not cars Fleet Services argo Van Training Full-size cargo vans are designed for 2 to 5 occupants including the driver and cargo. Full-size cargo vans are not cars and do not behave like cars. Knowing how they behave prevents accidents and saves lives. Why size makes a difference and what to do about it. Size and center of gravity Viewing perspective istance Size and enter of Gravity The solid line represents the plane in which a van s enter of Gravity floats when loaded with five or less occupants. The dotted line shows where the ombined enter-of-gravity is in a fully-loaded van. Note: Weight, height, passenger/cargo load make a van prone to rollover, because they elevate the van s center of gravity. onsider these facts loaded van can hydroplane. loaded van with is vulnerable to wind effects.

3 Preventing Rollover The risk of rollover increases dramatically as the number of occupants and cargo increases. Many safety precautions help minimize the likelihood that a van will rollover. onsider the following precautions: Slow down and drive cautiously, especially on rural roads. ny load placed on the roof will be above the center of gravity of the vehicle and will increase the likelihood of rolling over. s the van is loaded with passengers, the center of gravity shifts upward above the wheels. The higher the number of passengers, the greater the likelihood of a rollover, as more weight shifts towards the rear. lways fill the front seats first when loading passengers. When driving avoid shoulders, ditches, and embankments. Slow down on off ramps. Reduce your speed ELOW the speed limit posted for all turns and poor road conditions. The posted speed limit is safe for cars, NOT cargo vans. Keep speeds at or below the speed limit. o not exceed 60 mph at any time. If the van s wheels drop off the roadway, avoid panic-like steering and hard braking; gradually reduce speed and steer back onto the roadway when it is safe to do so. void panic-like steering by positioning both hands on the steering wheel at 9:00 and 3:00 or 8:00 and 4:00. o not load items on top of the vehicle or tow a trailer. o not overload the vehicle with passengers and/or equipment. istributed passengers evenly from side to side for balance and seat them towards the front of the vehicle. Minimizing Wind Effects The greater surface area of a van increases wind effects. To minimize the danger of wind effects consider these precautions: Proceed slowly in windy conditions and anticipate effects of current weather conditions.

4 e aware of vehicles around you. High winds are more problematic for drivers of vans, trucks, buses, recreational vehicles, campers, and drivers who are towing trailers. Reduce your speed and correct your steering, especially when moving from a protected area to an unprotected area, or when meeting large vehicles. Wind is often accompanied by heavy rain or winter precipitation. Stay alert for slippery areas. Keep both hands on the wheel, particularly if you're being buffeted by the wind or the slipstreams of other vehicles. nticipate stronger winds and gusts on exposed stretches of road or when passing high-sided vehicles. Keep your speed down. The faster you are travelling the further off-course you are likely to drift in a sudden gust before you get the vehicle back under control. Watch for other vehicles that can be blown into your path. Keep your distance from all other vehicles and take particular care around cyclists, motorcyclists and horse-riders. Keep both hands on the wheel, and keep a firmer grip than you would ordinarily. You must do this because wind gusts are unpredictable, and can be strong enough to cause the steering wheel to be wrenched out of your hands. If you encounter a storm with high winds, pull over and take a break. Wait for the storm to pass. High winds can result from weather conditions or wind vacuums caused by large trucks. Vans may be rocked when alongside large trucks or buses with winds coming from any direction. Size and Viewing Perspective Vans are higher and wider than cars; this changes your visual perspective. Some things to consider regarding a van s impact on visual perception include: Visibility through rearview and side view mirrors is less than you are used to with cars, so make sure you get your seat in a comfortable and safe position and arrange your wing mirrors and rear view mirror to the optimum visibility. Scan mirrors every 3-5 seconds. One of the benefits of driving a van is that you sit much higher than in a car so your long range visibility increases; use this advantage by anticipating conditions ahead, on the left, and on the right.

5 van s front end is short. When stopping behind another vehicle, make sure you can see the other vehicle s tires touching pavement. This ensures that you can move around a vehicle ahead of you, even in heavy traffic situations. void backing up when possible as 70% of van crashes involve backing into a stationary object. The use of a responsible spotter when loading, unloading, backing or parking is recommended to ensure no person or object is in harm s way. onsider alternatives to driving into a place in which you will need to back out. If backing is unavoidable, it should be done upon arrival at locations rather than when leaving. Size and istance-vans are bigger and take longer to stop Remember the higher your speed, the longer it takes to stop. Observe greater stopping distances when traveling in bad weather conditions. three to four second following distance between the van and the vehicle in front of the van is a recommended minimum. Maintain a cushion of safety around the van whenever possible (no traffic on all sides). rive in the right-hand lane whenever possible. Recommended safe following distance is as follows - When weather, road and visibility conditions are good, maintain 4 seconds behind other traffic. - When weather, road and visibility conditions are bad, maintain at least 6 seconds behind other traffic. When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed object (for example, a telephone pole or mailbox), count one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, etc. and you should not pass that same fixed object before the designated count.

6 Section 2-Initial Inspection In preparation for driving a cargo van, drivers should do the following: 1. Walk around the van and look for: - ondition and inflation of tires - Fluid leaks - ody damage - Loose objects - Vehicle lights and gauges - Tires that are worn and have inadequate thread depth 2. Ensure that tires are properly inflated - onsult correct tire pressure sticker located on inside of driver s door - Use a tire gauge with 0-100psi scale (not 0-50psi scale) - Use service station full size compressor - o not use small air compressor (quarter machine) to fill tire 3. heck the position of the mirrors to ensure they are adjusted properly for maximum vision. If needed, ask someone to assist as mirror adjustments are made. Ensure there is unobstructed visibility in the area alongside of the van to minimize creating a blind spot. 4. djust the seat - First the front/back adjustment - Next the angle of the seat back - Then the height of the head restraint 5. Ensure that there are no items within the van that are not secured and can become flying objects. 6. Ensure the van is free of debris or trash that can interfere with the pedals or the operation of the vehicle.

7 Section 3-Overall Van Safety acking onsider alternatives to driving into a place in which you will need to back out. ack upon arrival to a place as opposed to departure. Remember that passenger heads, seats, door posts and vehicle equipment impede visibility. Whenever possible, back out to the left (the driver s side) for better visibility. Use outside mirrors to direct you. void backing into traffic. Get out and check the area behind the van before backing. Turn on four-way flashers and back SLOWLY. Have a spotter assist you to back ONLY when they understand what is expected of them. There is a blind spot in front of the van which may prevent operators from seeing children and others of short stature walking in front of the van. e aware of van passenger walking in front of the van as they board or exit the vehicle. Night riving onsiderations im the lights when approaching other drivers; van headlights are set higher than car headlights and beams can impair other drivers vision when passing through windshields or reflecting off mirrors. im headlights 500 feet while approaching someone, 300 feet when coming up behind. Safety elts The NHTS maintains that 80% of people killed in rollover crashes were not wearing their safety belt. Ejection causes many injuries and deaths attributed to large vans. Once vans begin to roll over, many people die because they did not use seatbelts. rivers must ensure occupants are buckled up.

8 argo Van Training Test 1. Safety belts: are required for the driver and all passengers. aren't necessary to wear if not required by your organization. are optional when transporting cargo. are effective in reducing injury only in high-speed crashes. 2. The NHTS estimates that % of people killed in rollover crashes were not wearing their safety belt? 17% 30% 65% 80% 3. ompared to a passenger car, a van's following distance should: be the same. never be more than 3 seconds. be greater, but only in adverse weather. be greater in both ideal and adverse conditions.

9 4. You should dim headlights: only when a vehicle approaches at night. never more than 3 seconds. 500 feet while approaching someone, 300 feet when coming up behind. only if approach driver signals. 5. When you must back your van, it is best to: back to the passenger's side whenever possible. avoid using a spotter. back upon arrival to a place as opposed to departure. place the spotter in the path of the van. 6. Which one of the following does not apply to vans? They usually have a higher center of gravity. They usually have larger blind spots. They usually have shorter stopping distances. They are usually more affected by crosswinds.

10 7. The maximum speed when driving a van is: 45 mph 55 mph 60 mph the posted speed. 8. van s following distance should be: Four seconds behind other traffic when weather, road and visibility conditions are good. Six seconds behind other traffic when weather, road and visibility conditions are bad. Three seconds behind other traffic when weather, road and visibility conditions are good. Five seconds behind other traffic when weather, road and visibility conditions are bad. t least eight seconds. Ideally, 600 feet. nswers:

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