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.