LEADER S GUIDE 0638-LDG-E ACCIDENT FREE BACKING AND PARKING FOR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS Quality Safety and Health Products, for Today...and Tomorrow
Objectives of video: The objective for this training is to reduce backing and parking accidents by developing a backing awareness and effective backing skills. This eighteen minute video will assist the driver in perfecting these skills to help them achieve continued years of accident free driving. Suggestions for introducing the video: Backing and parking is the cause of 30% of all accidents. No matter what your driving experience or safety record, the dangers of backing and parking are always present. However, these dangers are also the easiest to avoid. This video, Accident Free Backing and Parking, is designed to demonstrate the good habits necessary to avoid these danger zones and to help eliminate costly accidents. You may want to use these questions to develop a pre-viewing discussion. What steps would you take to prepare yourself before driving to help avoid accidents? What is the safest type of parking space to use? Why would backing into a space, as opposed to pulling in a space, be more difficult? Where would you find the largest concentration of backing and parking related problems? What safety steps would you take when backing into a parking space? After a short discussion, view the video. After viewing, you might want to reproduce the sheet entitled Tips for Accident Free Backing and Parking and pass them out to your drivers for discussion. You might find it helpful to use an overhead transparency for this discussion.
After reviewing the key points of the video, take some time to discuss the situations in the video to further illustrate how these steps can avoid accidents. The following questions can be used to stimulate post viewing discussion. For example: Discuss the scene where Dave, driving a light van, attempts to back into the alley. What are the correct safety steps he takes to avoid an accident? What key element does he learn when he parks directly in front of the building? What makes that space become particularly accident prone? What situation occurred that drivers should try to avoid? Move to the scene where Mary, driving her car, decides to park down a long driveway. What does she do to ensure her safety while parking? What precautions does she take when leaving the parking space? Mike, also driving a light van, tries to back out of a dead end street. What hazards does he encounter? What steps does he take to avoid an accident? We see Mary again in her car, needing to park in a small, crowded lot. Why is it important for her to be aware of the cars behind her? How can you communicate to other drivers that you intend to back into a parking space?
Discuss the scene where Mike prepares to leave his vehicle. What safety steps does he take before leaving his vehicle? Why are these safety steps important? What steps does he take before getting back in his vehicle and driving away? Why are these important and what situations do they help avoid? REMEMBER! Training is only worthwhile when the driver practices what he or she has learned. TIPS FOR ACCIDENT FREE BACKING AND PARKING A pre-driving check can help you avoid an accident! Adjust your mirrors. Check your turn signals, brake and backing lights. Checking the condition of these safety components on your vehicle can mean the difference between driving safety and an accident. Always avoid backing up when parking! Always make a pull-through parking spot your first choice. Remember that in pulling out of a space, your rear wheels follow the path of the front wheels. But in backing out of a space, your front wheels make a wide sweep and that can mean trouble. Remember to take these important safety steps while backing. Always back into a space so that you can pull out into the flow of traffic when you leave.
Ask for help if your visibility is blocked. Honk before backing. Drive slowly. Use a reference point. Never stick your head out the window! Use your mirrors and glance back over your shoulder. Only back in as much as needed. Be aware of your surroundings. The largest concentration of backing and parking accidents occur in small, crowded parking lots. Park in a pull-in space, and if possible, at the outer edges of the lot. Obey all posted safety and traffic control signs to avoid accidents. Watch for vehicles behind you and be aware of your surroundings. Remember to take these safety steps before leaving your vehicle. Turn your wheels to the curb. Set your emergency brake. Set your transmission in reverse or park. Remove your keys. Look for obstacles or oncoming traffic before leaving your vehicle.