Changing Driving Habits Since 1952

SOME HISTORY . . .SOME HISTORY . . .

Developed by Harold Smith in 1948

Established as a company in 1952

Incorporated in California in 1961

We’ve worked with over half the We’ve worked with over half the Fortune 500Fortune 500

CHEVRON

FEDEX

BELLSOUTH

GENERAL ELECTRIC

JOHNSON & JOHNSON

ROADWAY EXPRESS

Can you afford to be involved?Can you afford to be involved?

For each death there are:

Dollars Spent $230.6 Billion

Vehicles Involved 10,783,109

Total Collisions 6,159,000

Unsafe Acts ??

Deaths 43,443

Injuries 2,699,000

Citations Issued 61,007,689

1

62

142

248

1,404

$5,308,105

Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2005

TRAFFIC COLLISION TRIANGLETRAFFIC COLLISION TRIANGLE

CAUSES OF COLLISIONSCAUSES OF COLLISIONS Inattention Impairment Tailgating Weather Fatigue Roads Speed Health Attitude Inexperience Other Drivers Vehicle Condition

USE OF THE 5 KEYS USE OF THE 5 KEYS PROVIDES:PROVIDES:

SPACE for the vehicle

VISIBILITY for the driver

TIME to make decisions

THE BENEFITS:THE BENEFITS:

Reduced Collision Potential

Reduced Fuel Usage

Reduced Maintenance

Lower Insurance Expense

Reduced Anxiety and Stress

5 KEYS OF THESMITH SYSTEM®

5 KEYS OF THESMITH SYSTEM®

Key 1 AIM HIGH IN STEERING®

Key 2 GET THE BIG PICTURE®

Key 3 KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING®

Key 4 LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT®

Key 5 MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU®

Key 1 Aim High In Steering ®

An animal’s eyesight is suited to its survival needs

Average drivers have 3 - 6 seconds of Eye Lead Time

Expand your Eye Lead to a minimum of 15 seconds

Key 1 Aim High In Steering ®

15 SecondEye Lead Time

6 Second Eye Lead Time

Key 2 Get The Big Picture ®

15 Seconds Ahead

Scan your mirrors every 5 - 8 seconds to achieve a circle of awareness

Key 2 Get The Big Picture ®

Relevant and Non-Relevant objects

Position your vehicle so you can see

Maintain the proper following distance at all times

Key 3 Keep Your Eyes Moving ®

Peripheral Vision

About 180 degrees of visibility

Central Vision

About three degrees of clear visibility

Key 3 Keep Your Eyes Moving ®

Blank and Fixed stares

Avoid focusing on one object for more than 2 seconds

Key 4 Leave Yourself An Out ®

Avoid traveling in traffic clustersSurround yourself with spaceAnticipate the actions of others

Key 5 Make Sure They See You ®

Eye ContactWarning DevicesProper Timing Is

Essential

REMEMBER THE 5 KEYS REMEMBER THE 5 KEYS

Key 1 AIM HIGH IN STEERING®

Key 2 GET THE BIG PICTURE®

Key 3 KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING®

Key 4 LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT®

Key 5 MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU®

Look ahead a minimum of 15 seconds

4-second minimum following distance

Scan mirrors every 5 - 8 seconds

Avoid focusing on one object for more than 2 seconds

Surround yourself with space

Eye contact

MANY FLEETS REPORT THAT MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE BACKING

Can WeRemove Reverse?

THE 5 KEYS TO THE 5 KEYS TO SAFE BACKINGSAFE BACKING

Backing Unnecessarily

Blind Areas

Vehicle Design

Infrequent Practice

Limited Mental Preparation For Backing

Inadequate Information During Backing

WHY DO BACKING WHY DO BACKING COLLISIONS HAPPEN?COLLISIONS HAPPEN?

Key 1 Aim High In Steering ®

When Possible, Avoid Backing

Think About Your Departure Upon Your Arrival

Key 2 Get The Big Picture ®

Scan For Potential HazardsUse a guide if available

When in doubt

GET

OUT

AND

LOOK

Key 3 Keep Your Eyes Moving ®

Scan the entire area

Don’t forget the front and the sides

Back slowly

Key 4 Leave Yourself An Out ®

Cushion your vehicle with space

Key 5 Make Sure They See You ®

Get eye contact

Use warning devices

If you don’t know…DON’T GO!

When possible, avoid backing!When possible, avoid backing!

Key 1 AIM HIGH IN STEERING®

Key 2 GET THE BIG PICTURE®

Key 3 KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING®

Key 4 LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT®

Key 5 MAKE SURE THEY SEE YOU®

Choose the safest location possible

Search for all potential hazards

Scan, don’t fixate

Surround yourself with space

Use warning devices - Make eye contact

If you must back...

• The information people use to make those

decisions is drawn from an area of awareness

that moves with them as they travel.

• We call this area the driver’s “Reaction Zone TM”

• Every driver’s actions, when behind the

wheel, are reactions to what they see in the

driving environment that surrounds them.

• Reaction Zones change size and shape continuously

• A driver’s skill determines the size and content of their Reaction Zone

• The average driver’s Reaction Zone extends 3 – 6 seconds ahead of

their vehicle

•This happens because drivers tend to travel in clusters

•In these clusters, drivers cannot:

•SEE what they need to see

•THINK about all of the traffic dangers - or-•DO what needs to be done

•Driving in packs makes it difficult or impossible to obtain:

•Space, Visibility, and Time

are the key elements of safe driving

•Space for the vehicle

•Visibility for the driver

•Time to make decisions

Advanced drivers should change the content of their

Reaction Zone to maximize their space and visibility, insulating

themselves from the unexpected

When you maximize your space and visibility, you create a much larger zone that we refer to as a

Pre-Action Zone TM

This larger Pre-Action Zone gives us a greater awareness of potential problems farther ahead, to the sides and to the rear. In addition it allows us more time to SEE, THINK and DO.