Avoiding front- and rear-end vehicle incidents

Three basic defensive driving skills can be used both on and off the job to prevent front- and rear-end vehicle incidents.

• Gradual stops. CNA Insurance states that there are countless accidents caused by a sudden stop at an intersection, grade crossing, passenger stop, or in preparation for making turns. If you make a sudden or unexpected stop, the person driving the vehicle behind you might not have sufficient time and distance to stop. This often causes a chain reaction involving three or more vehicles.
• Scanning ahead. By simply watching the traffic situation, including moving vehicles, parked vehicles that might pull out from their spaces and pedestrian activity, you can anticipate the need to adjust your driving speed or the need to stop
• Safe following distances. The actual safe following distance depends on the weight of your vehicle. A fully loaded contractor’s van or straight truck weighs far more than a private passenger vehicle and would need greater following distances. The recommended safe following distance for private passenger vehicles is three seconds, and should be adjusted upwards to four, five, or even six seconds, depending on the weight of your vehicle and the load it is carrying. Following distances need to be increased during inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.

If you and your drivers practice these basic skills, you can protect yourself from injuries, prevent injuries to others and minimize vehicle and operational downtime, as well as minimize the extra expenses associated with vehicle incidents and increased insurance costs incurred because of them.

For more information on this or any other insurance topic, call the program administrator for GlassInsure, NGA’s sponsored insurance program, at 800/640-7601.