Site, Speed and Space

Transcription

1 Site, Speed and Space Module A: Professional Apprentice Driver Series Version 4 Document Launch: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 Copyright 2005 by CR England First Edition, Version 4

2 Table of Contents Book 2 Objectives 1 Plan Time for Learning 1 Improving Backing Skills 2 Backing Rules 2 Guidelines for Backing 2 Activity Practice Backing: Square-Up 4 4X4 Maneuver 4 Keep Track of Your Backing Practice 7 Safe Driving Practices 7 Safety and YOU 7 Safe Driving Triangle 8 Activity Watch Sight, Speed and Space Videotape or DVD 11 Sight 11 Sight Management: The Art of Seeing and Being Seen 11 Focus on the Future 11 Develop a Search Pattern 12 Search Pattern Guidelines 12 Be Seen By Others 13 Do Not Overdrive Your Vision 13 Proper Use of Mirrors 14 Flat Mirror 14 Convex Mirror 15 See the Big Picture 16 Road Surface Hazards 16 Hazards on or Around the Road 18 Actions of Others Using the Road 19 Activity Focusing on the Future 21 Activity Adjusting Your Mirrors Properly 22 Speed 23 Speed Management: The Key to Control 23 Speed Management Common Sense and Policy 24 Speed Rules 25 Speed Rule for Ramps and Curves 25 Speed Adaptation 29 Speed Rules for Bad Weather 29 Speed Rules for Construction Zones 30 Speed Rules for Traffic 31 Speed Rules for Parking Lots 31 Rules for Using Cruise Control 32 Too Fast for Conditions 32 Activity Being a Stone in the Stream 34 Activity Feeling Lateral Motion 34 Activity Observing Speed Adaptation 36

3 Space 37 Space Management: Creating a Safety Bubble 37 Space Ahead 37 Space Beside 38 Steps for Changing Lanes Safely 39 Guidelines for Merging Into Traffic 40 Space Behind 41 Space Below 41 Space Above 43 Book Quiz 45 Activity Take a Quiz Using the Qualcomm 45 Quiz Questions 45 Module Completion Call 49 Activity Make a Call to Your TC 49

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5 Professional Apprentice Driver Series Module A Book 2 Objectives Completing all the activities in Book 2 will assist you in improving your professional driving abilities by: Practicing backing maneuvers. Accurately judging the distance of objects in front of you. Properly adjusting your mirrors. Slowing and adjusting your speed to conditions. Learning to sense small amounts of lateral motion. Becoming aware of speed adaptation. Plan Time for Learning Done Plan to do: When Activity: Practice Backing: Square-Up Activity: Watch Sight, Speed and Space videotape or DVD (60 minutes) Activity: Focusing on the Future Activity: Adjusting Your Mirrors Properly Activity: Being a Stone in the Stream Activity: Feeling Lateral Motion Activity: Observing Speed Adaptation Activity: Take a Quiz Using the Qualcomm Activity: Make a Call to Your TC Driving On Duty Driving Driving Driving Driving Driving On Duty On Duty 1

6 Book 2 An effective learning approach for some apprentices is to first review the topics and then complete the associated activities. This may take 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete. Improving Backing Skills Backing Rules Backing a tractor-trailer is both an art and a science. Experience is a good teacher, but there are a few simple rules that make backing safer under any circumstance. The four basic rules to follow in any backing situation are: Always get out and look Never back up unless you have to Never back into traffic unprotected Always try to position for a sight-side back Guidelines for Backing Here are a few additional guidelines to follow when backing. As you make your initial set-up, look at the situation and set your rig up for the easiest possible back. Whenever possible, avoid backing from the blind side. See the section on backing in Book 1. As a rule, getting out and checking your path a minimum of three times will greatly reduce the chance of a backing accident: the first time, before you begin to back; the second, when your doors are halfway to the dock; and the third when you get out opening your doors one trailer length away from the dock. 2

7 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Before You Begin to Back When your set-up is complete, stop, set your brakes and get out of the truck. Walk around the truck, starting from the driver's door and walking around the front of the truck. Look up, down, around, and side to side. Check for clearance all the way around the truck, all the way back to the dock. Return to your tractor walking up the left-hand side of your truck. Open both windows. Turn off your radio. Check your mirrors. Activate your hazard flashers and, if appropriate Sound your electric or air horn. When you are backing, using a slow speed is essential. You increase your ability to react to a problem by keeping your speed down. As insurance, cover the service brake pedal with your foot. Keep your trailer doors closed as long as possible to help prevent freight from falling out. It is always a good idea to secure your trailer doors by tying the hook mechanism down with bungee cords to prevent damage from an open door. Doors can come open from any number of causes, including contact with dock cushions, and can cause great damage upon pulling away. If at any time you are not sure how close you are to an object, get out and look (WHEN IN DOUBT GET BACK OUT!). 3

8 Book 2 In the event you have to back across or into traffic, make sure you have spotters to stop traffic for you. Simply using your flashers and horn are not enough in this situation. Activity Practice Backing: Square-Up Note: For safety, your trainer will need to be with you at all times while practicing backing. There are no exceptions to this rule. Remember, never move the truck without the trainer present. If you need to review steps in backing, refer to Module A, Book 1. Remember to spend time talking about backing with your trainer. You should try to get at least 2 of the required 15 backing practice sessions to complete this book. 4X4 Maneuver Before you begin this activity, make sure you understand how to do a 4X4 backing maneuver. The 4x4 maneuver is a backing technique used to reposition the tractor in front of the trailer without changing the position of the rear of the trailer. It is important to have your tractor straight in front of your trailer before entering the space so you can see down both sides of the trailer. The 4X4 maneuver is useful in these situations: Where you have limited room in front of the space you are trying to back into For positioning the tractor straight in front of the trailer when performing an alley dock maneuver Here are the steps involved in this maneuver if you need to refresh your memory. 4

9 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D 4X4 Backing Maneuver Turn the steering wheel hard away from the tandems and pull up no more than 10 feet. By pulling up less than 10 feet, you will not change the position of the rear of the trailer in relation to the parking space. Then you turn the steering wheel hard towards the tandems and back up the same amount of distance that you pulled up in the last move. Once again, this would be no more than 10 feet. Depending on how much of an angle you are at and how far you pull foreword on the pull up, you may need to pull up and back up one or two more times in order to get the tractor straight in front of the trailer. It is much better to take the time to use this 4x4 maneuver than to push the trailer into a space at an angle. Many backing accidents happen because the driver could not see down both sides of the trailer when he entered the space. You may want to practice doing the 4x4 during your backing practice. To complete this activity, here is what you should do: Step 1 Step 2 Be sure to read Backing Rules in this book for additional backing guidelines. For this activity, select a location to get one hour of backing practice. It may take more than one location to complete an hour of practice. You should try to make each backing maneuver as simple as possible. You may accomplish this by setting up properly for the back so that in your next move you can get the tractor and trailer in a straight line and square in front of the space. Then you are able to do a simple straight line back into the space. 5

10 Book 2 Step 3 As you approach the space, look at the situation and complete a set up as taught in Book 1. You will need at least 100' in front of the space you are backing into to do a traditional serpentine set-up. This will also square-up the trailer in front of the space. When you are sure of the distance, complete a serpentine maneuver as you pull out in front of the space. Refer to the illustration. Step 4 Once you are in front of the space, get out of the vehicle to see how you have done. Check to make sure: Your tractor and trailer are straight You can see down both sides of the vehicle when looking in your mirrors You are square with the space you intend to back into The gap on either side of your vehicle is equal DO NOT back into the space. Today s practice is just for setting-up and squaring-up in front of the space. Repeat the setup and square-up until you can do them very well. Step 5 Now try setting-up and squaring-up for an alley dock (45-degree back). Do the set-up and square-up so that you are straight and square in front of the space. Get out and look as many times as you need to. Use pull-ups or the 4x4 maneuver to help you get your tractor and trailer straight and square in front of the space. DO NOT back into the space during this practice session. Step 6 Repeat the set-up and square-up until you can do it correctly 3 times in a row and feel confident doing it. 6

11 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Step 7 Keep track of your backing practice sessions in the table provided. Keep Track of Your Backing Practice Date Start Time End Time Where did you get your backing practice? Step 8 What do you feel you still need to work on in your backing? Set specific goals with your trainer. Safe Driving Practices Safety and YOU Over the next 30 days, you will build the driving habits that will form the foundation for the way you will drive the rest of your career. The decisions you make and the habits formed now will largely determine how long and how successful that career will be. No amount of driving skill can make up for unsafe driving habits. Make the investment in your career to learn and practice safe driving methods from the beginning. Do not let the bad habits or bad attitudes of other drivers influence the way you drive. 7

12 Book 2 Safe Driving Triangle Four driving habits contribute more than anything else does to most accidents involving large trucks. They are: Failing to maintain a proper lookout Driving too fast for conditions Following too closely Driving while fatigued This book will focus on the first three relating to sight, speed, and space. These three things: sight, speed, and space, are the elements that need to be managed properly in order to prevent accidents. In addition, of course, you do not manage anything well when you are fatigued. There is a discussion on fatigue in a different book. Sight is how well you can see ahead of, behind, and around the vehicle. It also refers to how much attention you pay to what you are looking at and understanding warning signs and possible hazards. Speed is how fast you are moving. It is important to understand that just because you are going the speed limit or below the speed limit, it does not mean you are driving at a safe speed. Posted highway speed limits are maximum speeds designed for cars, not large trucks. Trucks cannot stop as quickly as cars and they tip over more easily. Even 25 miles per hour can be too fast if the road is slippery or traffic is heavy. Professional drivers adjust their speed for the weather, traffic, load, and road conditions. Space is the key element in managing following distance. In other words, following distance is how far you are behind the vehicle in front of you. Most drivers do not leave enough following distance, but as a professional driver, you should not be one of them. The space in front of you is the best protection you have against accidents. You also need to be aware of the space you need above, below, behind, and to the sides of your vehicle and anything that is in that space. 8

13 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D These three elements, sight, speed, and space, together determine the amount of TIME a driver has to respond to changes in traffic, road conditions, or hazards. It is response time that makes the difference between a close call and disaster. Take a closer look at how these elements relate to each other and the need to balance them to keep you driving safely. In this example, imagine yourself in a situation where your sight is limited. You might be driving at night or on a foggy day. What do you need to do to make up for your limited ability to see well? The answer is to reduce your speed and increase your space by slowing down. 9

14 Book 2 If you want to increase your speed, you need to make sure that you can see far enough ahead to do it safely and that you increase following distance to make up for it. In situations where space is limited (such as in a parking lot), you need to be particularly alert, check your mirrors more often, and drive slowly. In other words, you need to make up for the loss of space by reducing your speed and increasing your attention to sight. Balancing sight, speed, and space gives you the time you need to drive safely. These key factors and their relationship with response time are at the core of safe driving. Most of the safe driving rules and methods you will be learning are designed to give you the best combination of sight, speed, and space to meet any driving situation safely. 10

15 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Activity Watch Sight, Speed and Space Videotape or DVD This video was designed to be watched in two or three sittings. There is a lot of information. Many apprentices get more benefit from this video if they watch a portion and then read that section in the book before going on to the next portion. For your convenience, there are blank pages at the end of this book where you can take notes as you watch. What you should do: Step 1 Watch the Sight, Speed and Space videotape or DVD and take notes. Step2 Read the sections Sight, Speed and Space in the book. Sight Sight Management: The Art of Seeing and Being Seen Sight management is the art of seeing and being seen by others. Drivers can only avoid problems that they can see coming. Safe drivers learn to: Focus on the future Develop a search pattern Be seen by others Not overdrive their vision See the big picture Focus on the Future The first rule of sight management is to Focus on the Future. In other words, when you are driving down the road, your main attention should be on what is ahead of you: 11

16 Book 2 On the highway, look at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of you (approximately ¼ mile) In the city, look beyond the next traffic light; scan the block ahead If you cannot see around the vehicle in front of you, drop back to see ahead (in other words, you may need to increase your space to improve your sight) Develop a Search Pattern Whether you are doing traffic checks in the city or keeping track of things moving down the highway, it is helpful to use an organized approach. This way you make sure to look at everything you need to see often enough to spot trouble coming and anticipate the moves of other drivers. Get in the habit of following a regular search pattern as you drive. Search Pattern Guidelines Include looking forward, to each side, both near and far ahead, above and below, and at your gauges Take a direct look out the driver side window Check mirrors every 5 8 seconds Move more than your eyes (head and body) 12 Beware of a fixed stare (avoid highway hypnosis)

17 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Be Seen By Others Just as you want to make sure you see other drivers, you need to make sure that they see you. This means using your lights and turn signals properly. It also involves moving slowly and purposefully so those around you can tell where you are going. Clearly signal your intent: o Signal a minimum 3 5 seconds before making a move o Do not signal too early o Cancel your signal if you decide you cannot move o Signal ½ block (minimum 100 feet) ahead in the city o Signal even when no one else is around to keep in the habit o Do not forget to cancel signal (make a habit of canceling before you shift) Make clear, unhurried moves (communicate your intent by your position) Make eye contact when possible Use headlights, running lights and flashers Use sound as a signal: o Signal danger with city horn o Avoid using air horn unless you are out of control Do Not Overdrive Your Vision You must always be able to stop within the space you can see ahead of you. In other words, if you can only see 300 feet in front of your vehicle, you should not be traveling faster than 45 miles per hour even in good road conditions. To do so would be the same as driving blindfolded. Use the following tips to avoid overdriving your vision: Be aware that the range and brightness of your headlights will affect your night driving speed Remember that bad weather, especially fog, can cut down your ability to see Winding canyons and heavy traffic limit your ability to see ahead Keep your windows and mirrors clean and free from ice and frost 13

18 Book 2 Check your windshield wiper blades every time you stop for fuel and carry an extra pair so you can replace them as soon as they get nicked or worn Check your eyesight regularly and make sure you get the right glasses or contacts Proper Use of Mirrors Use your mirrors to see what is going on around you. Other than getting out of your truck to look, mirrors are the only way to see what is behind you. They are also critical to check before changing speed or making lane changes. Of course, if your mirrors are dirty or improperly adjusted, they will not do you much good. Flat Mirror This type of mirror is sometimes called a plane or West Coast mirror. It is where you look to see gap and distance. It provides a good view of the rear of the trailer and the roadway behind. Advantages of flat mirrors: Good for judgment of distance and, to some degree, the speed of overtaking vehicles Clearly shows amount of gap on sides of vehicle Field of view greatest in flat mirror on driver s side Disadvantages of flat mirrors: Does not give a wide view Leaves a blind area in other lanes alongside most of the length of vehicle on both sides Cannot see small vehicles to the side 14

19 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Convex Mirror This type of mirror is designed with curvature to give a wide-angle view. This is where you look to see your reference points when turning and judge whether you are straight and square when backing. Advantages of convex mirrors: Wider view than flat mirror Eliminates most, but not all, of blind area of flat mirror Disadvantages of convex mirrors: Distorts image of overtaking vehicles by making them appear smaller and farther away Distorts distance from reference points May trick you into pulling out thinking there is enough gap when there is not enough gap to be safe Using either mirror alone is not enough. The flat mirror s blind areas are too large and the convex mirror creates distortion. It is best to have both for maximum side and rear vision. Keep in mind that even with both mirrors, blind spots still exist. The only way to know if something is beside or behind you is to have your mirrors properly adjusted and to check them often. Always keep your mirrors and windows clean inside and out. An oily film, spots, or bug splats on the glass at night will distort your view and may cause you to misjudge distances or may even cover up a vehicle along side you and you might run into it. Remember: Flat = Gap and Distance Convex = Straight and Square 15

20 Book 2 See the Big Picture Just like a detective gathers clues to find out who committed the crime, truck drivers look for clues on and around the road. These clues will tell you in advance about possible dangers you need to watch out for. If you learn to read the clues of the road, you will be able to stop likely problems before they happen. The key is in seeing ahead and understanding what you see so you can react properly to avoid dangerous situations. Road hazards can come in any size, at any time, from any direction. Some of them look harmless and you may not think of them as a hazard at first. In this section, you will learn to see the big picture and look beyond first glance to identify possible hazards before they become problems for you. Road hazards can generally be discussed in three different areas: The road surface itself Things on or around the road Actions of others using the road This book will list some typical examples in each of these areas. But, do not look at this as a complete list. As you stay alert and gain experience, you will see many additional examples of hazards. When you keep your eyes open for them, you can usually avoid these hazards. Road Surface Hazards No road surface is perfect. Even those in excellent condition can be affected by changing weather conditions. You must be constantly aware of changes on the road surface so you can adjust your driving accordingly. Following is a list of road conditions to watch for: New asphalt often has some oil remaining on the surface, which can make it slippery especially at the beginning of a rainstorm. New asphalt can be soft in spots, especially around the edges. New road surfaces on top of an old surface can make the roadbed higher and affect clearances. 16

21 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Road shoulders and emergency lanes, especially those made of gravel, are often not wide enough for a large truck and/or are too soft to support the truck s weight. Heavily banked or crowned road surfaces may affect steering or trailer tracking. Railroad tracks, especially if humped above the road, can catch landing gear. Deep potholes or dips in driveways can damage wheel rims, landing gear, or even fuel tanks. Upcoming grades or curves in the road can also be hazards if you are not prepared for them so you can approach them at the right speed and in the right gear. You need to be alert to clues that could warn you ahead of time that the road surface might be changing. Clues might include things like: A change in the color of the road in the distance, stored construction equipment or materials, or black tire tracks in oncoming lanes might indicate new asphalt ahead Headlights during the day, wet tarps on flatbeds, other signs of water on oncoming traffic or dark clouds in the distance could indicate wet roads ahead Tire ruts on the side of the road, soil erosion, and crumbling edges would be clear signs of soft, unsafe shoulders Chips or gouges in the asphalt, as shown in this photo, are signs a dip needs to be driven through slowly and with care The jerking or bouncing of vehicles ahead of you might be a sign of a deep pothole The distant pattern of trees, power lines, sound walls, or other objects that follow the road are clues about the shape of the road ahead 17

22 Book 2 The timing between when you can see distant headlights of an oncoming vehicle, when they disappear and then re-appear, can give you a clue about rolling hills you are approaching A flash of headlights then taillights then headlights could be the sign of a car spinning out of control ahead of you indicating that the road surface ahead is icy Hazards on or Around the Road You also need to be constantly watching for hazards that might show up on or around the roadway. Examples of these hazards and the clues you might see that could tell you they are coming are listed in the following table. Hazard Debris (junk or trash) in the road can damage tires, air lines, lights, or electrical connections. Jerking the steering wheel of a large truck to swerve around debris is very dangerous and should not be done. Your best chance to avoid debris is to spot it early. High winds. Just as with sunlight, unexpected high winds can be a hazard, especially when your trailer is empty. Clue Watch for an increasing amount of debris on the side of the road, cars slowing in front of you, or vehicles on the side of the road. Watch for wind when coming out of a protected area such as cresting a hill, crossing a narrow canyon between hills, out from behind buildings, or out of tunnels. Also, watch for movement in roadside grasses, plants, and trees. Blinding sunlight or blinding headlights can hit you suddenly Times of day, angle of sun, or dim glow of light in the 18

23 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Hazard when coming over the top of a hill, around a curve in a canyon, or out of a tunnel. Animals in the road. It is usually not possible to slow a large truck quickly enough to avoid hitting an animal once you have spotted it in the road. Swerving to avoid hitting an animal nearly always results in more damage by causing rollovers, jackknife and head-on accidents. Slowing down and allowing extra space when you first see signs of animals near the roadway are the best way to avoid hitting one. Clue distance are clues to watch for. Watch for hunters parked to the side of the road, dead animals on or around the road, evening hours, streams next to the road, live animals in the distance, or cars ahead of you swerving or hitting brakes. If you see them early, most on-road hazards can be dealt with by slowing down as much as you safely can (considering traffic and road conditions) and, if you have the time and space, smoothly steering to avoid the hazard. If you do not have the time or space to steer smoothly around the hazard and cannot stop safely, the best thing to do is slow as much as you can, hold the steering wheel firmly and drive over the hazard. Then stop at the next safe haven and inspect your truck for damage. Do not try to swerve quickly to avoid a road hazard as this can cause your rig to rollover or jackknife. The exception to this would be situations where a person who is walking, running, or biking moves into your path. In this case, you must do everything possible to avoid hitting them. Actions of Others Using the Road Perhaps the most dangerous road hazards are those created by other drivers or pedestrians. Being aware and knowing what to look for can help you avoid many of 19

24 Book 2 these man-made hazards. Listed in the following table are examples of these hazards: Hazard Drivers with blocked vision could change lanes or pull out suddenly. Distracted drivers. Drivers who are paying attention to something else are not paying enough attention to their driving. They are not aware of traffic, signs, signals, or road conditions. They often wander out of their lane or make sudden movements without warning. Clue Watch for cars with blocked rear windows, frost covered windows, rental trucks or panel vans, hedges or other objects blocking visibility from driveways or intersections, and vehicles backing into the roadway. Watch for drivers holding cell phones, maps, notebooks, make-up, or food; cars with luggage on top or other signs of tourists, cars with children, shopping areas, delivery drivers, empty taxi cabs, broken down cars or other things happening on the side of the road. Confused drivers. Drivers who are very lost, tired, drunk or on drugs can be a hazard because their reaction time is affected and they do not behave in a logical way. You cannot tell what they might do next. They may speed up and slow down randomly. They may stop, change lanes, turn, or even back up suddenly and without warning. They could miss Watch for vehicles weaving back and forth across the lane, random changes in speed, braking for no logical reason, open windows in cold weather, or drivers rubbing their eyes or shaking their head. 20

25 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Hazard traffic signals, stop at a green light, turn onto a one-way road, or run off the highway. Clue Your best response to other drivers or pedestrians that may cause hazards is awareness. If you see a possible problem, give them space so they can make mistakes without affecting you. Activity Focusing on the Future Keeping a proper lookout is an important part of driving safely. You can only avoid problems you see coming. In this activity, you will practice judging proper second sight distance. What you should do: When driving on the highway, pick out a landmark you think is Step 1 about ¼ mile down the road. Step 2 Then start counting seconds (one one-thousand, two onethousand, three one-thousand, etc.). Step 3 Answer this question. How many seconds did it actually take you to reach your mark? Step 4 Step 5 Select another landmark and try again. Keep practicing until you can judge your second sight distance correctly 4 out of 5 times at highway speed. Step 6 Then try it at different speeds. Make sure you always look seconds ahead of you. 21

26 Book 2 Activity Adjusting Your Mirrors Properly Learn to adjust both left and right mirrors to get the best view possible of the sides and rear of your vehicle. This activity will help you adjust your mirrors properly. Follow these nine steps to adjust your mirrors every time you get behind the wheel. Discuss any problems adjusting your mirrors with your trainer. What you should do: Step 1 Clean your mirrors before and after you adjust them. Make sure you have adjusted your seat before you adjust your mirrors. Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Hook up to a trailer and park in a straight line on level ground. Adjust the driver s side mirrors: make sure the mirror frame is straight out from the door. Never pull the frame in towards the door as this will position the mirror too close to the tractor and narrow your field of view. On the Century class Freightliner and Volvo, set the mirror frame in its indent location. While sitting in the driver s seat in your normal driving position, adjust the flat (plane) mirror in/out and up/down with the motor control or by using both hands. This will help to prevent breaking the mirror. The inside edge of the flat mirror should show a view of approximately ¾ to 1 of the trailer s side and the ground from approximately the drive wheels to the rear of the trailer. Turn the parking lights on and make sure you can see the trailer s red clearance light in both flat mirrors. Step 6 Adjust the driver s side convex mirror to show a view of 22

27 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D approximately ½ of the tractor s side (running boards and ground behind the driver s door) in the right side of the mirror. In the right e dge of this mirror, you should see the front end of the trailer. This will give you an overlap of view in both mirrors. Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Adjust the passenger side mirrors the same way as you did the driver s side. The trailer s side should be showing approximately ¾ to 1 in the inside left edge of the flat mirror and the tractor s side will show slightly in the convex mirror. Adjust the hood spot mirror to the left, approximately on a 20-degree angle, and slightly downward. The inside left edge should show a view of the right front fender, passenger door mirrors, and the ground next to the steer tire. This will help you to see any vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles close to the tractor on the passenger side. After adjusting all the mirrors, sit in the driver s seat, in your normal driving position, and look at them again. Make sure all the mirrors are correctly placed for you. You need to turn more than your eyes or head to see properly in your mirrors. Move your body forward and back and from side to side to see as much as you can in the mirrors. The more and better you can see, the less likely you are to have an accident. Speed Speed Management: The Key to Control Some newer drivers have the mistaken belief that driving fast is a sign of skill and is respected by other drivers. This could not be further from the truth. The best, most successful truck drivers see those who drive too fast as lacking in knowledge, skill, and good sense. Cities and public highways are not protected racetracks and truck drivers who act like racecar drivers are considered childish and dangerous. 23

28 Book 2 Speed is the one element of the safe driving triangle that is totally under the driver s control. How well a driver manages speed is the best way to judge his or her knowledge, skill, and professionalism. Professional drivers are more concerned about everyone moving down the road safely than in being out in front. In this book, you will learn about C.R. England s rules and policies for speed. Travel 5 mph below the posted speed Take curved ramps at ½ the posted speed Cut speed ⅓ on wet roads; ½ for snow on roads Act like a stone in a stream by driving 2 3 mph slower than the flow of traffic Drive 5 mph or slower in parking lots Never accelerate when backing Use cruise control safely As you go through these speed rules and policies, remember that they are based on many years of sometimes-painful experience. They are here to protect our drivers and the motoring public. Each one is there for a reason and as you gain experience, you will gain an understanding of why they are so important. Speed Management Common Sense and Policy Because highways and speed limits are designed mainly for cars, it is nearly always a good idea to go at least 5 miles per hour below the posted speed limits. Safe speed and fuel economy are reasons why C.R. England governs trucks at the following maximum speeds: 24

29 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Policy 70 mph for lease trucks 65 mph for company trucks Apprentice drivers must not drive over 60 mph regardless of the truck s governed speed It is important to note that these are maximum speeds and just because the truck can go that fast does not mean it should. There are many situations where you must use your knowledge, skill, and good sense to know how much you need to slow your vehicle in order to drive safely. These speed management rules will guide you in those decisions. Speed Rules Speed Rule for Ramps and Curves One of the biggest causes of accidents (especially rollovers) for large trucks is going too fast on ramps and curves. You have already read that posted speed limits on highways are for cars, not large trucks. This is especially true for posted speeds on ramps and curves. Cars are very different from large trucks in many ways, but one very important difference is their center of gravity. Center of gravity refers to where most of the weight of the vehicle is located. 25

30 Book 2 For most cars, the center of gravity is low to the ground. For most large trucks, the center of gravity is much higher. This makes large trucks top heavy so they tip over more easily. A car is more likely to slide sideways when taking a curve too fast. A large truck is more likely to roll over than to slide. When a vehicle goes around a curve, there are two forces working against each other. When the force of the mass already in motion is greater than the force steering and pulling the vehicle, it will roll. Once you are at the apex of a curve you should be slowed to the appropriate speed for that curve. However, if you are still going too fast, do not think that because you are already in the curve you should not brake. Continue to slow, as long as you can stay in control of your vehicle, until you reach the safe speed for the curve. By the time you feel a truck start to roll, it is almost always too late to do anything to stop it. That is why speed management is the single most important factor in preventing rollovers. 26

31 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D The overturn force in a curve increases as a square of the speed. What that means is that if you double your speed, you create four times the overturn force, and if you triple your speed, you increase the overturn force by nine times. Whenever you approach a curve in a high center of gravity vehicle, there is a potential danger of overturning your vehicle. How Fast on Ramps and Curves? So, if you cannot trust the speed limit signs to tell trucks how fast to go on ramps and curves, how do you know what is safe? The general rule is to take ramps at 10 miles per hour under the posted speed and curved ramps at ½ the posted speed. If you will remember and apply this one rule, you will reduce your chances significantly of having a rollover or jackknife accident. If you say the ramp speed out loud, it will help you remember to check your speed and slow down. As with many rules, some minor changes need to be made to this rule so that it makes sense in all situations. There will be times when the ramp speed is not posted or the ramp is straight and the end of the ramp can be clearly seen when entering. There will also be times when highway curves in canyons or on two lane roads are very tight and speed should be reduced more than 10 miles per hour. 27

32 Book 2 The following table shows C.R. England s policy in these different situations. But, if you cannot remember the specific exception, always take the ramp or curve at the slower speed. Policy In most states, the ramp speed limit signs are posted at the beginning of the curve on the ramp. This is helpful in that it lets you know when you have to be down to half the posted speed on those ramps. In these states, you will sometimes find ramp speeds posted at the beginning of the ramp and that would mean that the ramp starts with a curve and you need to be slowed before entering the ramp. The only exception to this is in states where the ramp speed is always posted at the beginning of the ramp regardless of where the curve starts. Make sure you are aware of where ramp speeds are posted in the states you drive through. 28

33 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D In any case, you need to make sure your vehicle has slowed to ½ the posted speed (or, if ramp is not posted, ½ the highway speed) BEFORE you enter the ramp curve. Speed Adaptation When you travel at higher speeds for long periods, your body gets used to the feel of moving fast. It begins to feel normal to you. Then, when you begin to slow down, it feels like you are going much slower than you really are. This is speed adaptation. Because of speed adaptation, drivers often misjudge how much they are slowing down when taking highway exit ramps or driving in parking lots. The results can be dangerous and even deadly. Avoid the negative effects of speed adaptation by doing the following: Make a habit of reading ramp speed signs out loud or stating the safe speed for the ramp out loud if the ramp speed is not posted. Never trust your gut feel for how much you are slowing down. Always check your speedometer to make sure. Speed Rules for Bad Weather conditions is in other books. Another major cause of accidents in large trucks is driving too fast in bad weather conditions. Because large trucks are much heavier than cars, it takes them several times longer than a car to stop. When the road surface is wet or icy, it takes even longer. A detailed discussion of speed management techniques for specific weather The following are key rules for managing speed in bad weather. 29

34 Book 2 Slow down 1/3 for wet roads. For example, a road driven safely at 60 mph in good weather should be driven at 40 mph when the roads are wet. Slow down 1/2 for snow. This means a road driven safely at 60 mph in good weather should be driven at 30 mph in snow. Avoid driving on icy roads if possible. Icy road conditions are very dangerous. If you can wait the weather out in a safe haven, do not drive during icy road conditions. When taking a ramp in bad weather, you should apply both speed rules: the one for the ramp and the one for the bad weather. So, if a curved ramp has a posted speed of 45 mph, under good conditions you would take the ramp at 22 mph, if the ramp were snow packed, you should cut your speed by ½ again and take the ramp at NO MORE THAN 11 mph. Speed Rules for Construction Zones Construction zones are filled with possible hazards and should always be approached with caution. Never go over the special speed limits posted for a construction zone even if they do not seem to make sense. There may be a dip or bump in the road or equipment entering the highway that you cannot see. Remember that speeding fines are often double in construction zones. Always drive a few miles under the flow of traffic in construction zones to give yourself the space and sight you need to respond to quick stops or other hazards. Rear-end accidents are the most common type of accident in construction zones. 30

35 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Speed Rules for Traffic Driving in traffic can either be the worst, most anxiety-filled part of your day or one of the better, more relaxed parts of your day. What makes the difference has little to do with traffic around you. It all depends on how you approach it. The C.R. England speed rule for driving in traffic is to go 2 3 miles per hour slower than the flow of traffic. This is the stone in a stream approach because your vehicle will be like a stone in a stream where traffic is flowing around you. Driving just 2 3 miles per hour slower than the flow of traffic does not create a situation where you are blocking traffic. Yet it allows traffic to move around you in a way that opens up space in front of you and allows you to see ahead more clearly. You now have the time you need to react calmly and safely. Speed Rules for Parking Lots There are more accidents per square mile in truck stops and parking lots than in any other place on earth. Drivers tend to relax when they get off the road and into a parking lot. In reality, they should be even more watchful and alert. Driving in a truck stop parking lot is like driving through a minefield. There is a possible accident around every corner. You should never go over 5 mph in a parking lot or busy customer dock area. Shift down to your lowest forward gear and keep your right foot off the accelerator, covering the brake. This will allow you to stop quickly. When backing, you should move only as fast as the truck will go in reverse without acceleration. Use the clutch to control speed when going in reverse until you are ready to come to a full stop. 31

36 Book 2 Rules for Using Cruise Control Using cruise control on the highway has upsides and downsides. On the upside, it helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save fuel. On the downside, by using the cruise control to manage you speed, you can become non-attentive and it keeps your feet away from both the pedals. This is dangerous because it increases your response time to emergencies. A split second can make all the difference. If you are using cruise control because your leg or foot is stiff, then you should be taking a break and walk around to move your foot and leg to relieve stiffness. Here are the rules for using cruise control. During your apprenticeship, do not use cruise control until you can demonstrate to your trainer that you know how to use it correctly. You should wait until your 3 rd or 4 th week of driving before you do to make sure you feel comfortable handling the vehicle. Do not use on wet or slick roads. If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, this can cause the vehicle to automatically accelerate to pick up the slack and to keep it going at the set cruise control speed. Do not use in construction zones. If you use cruise control, set the speed at least 2 3 mph below the governed speed of the truck (or a safe speed). This gives you the ability to increase your speed if you need it. Too Fast for Conditions Speed management is more than just following a set of rules. There will be many times when there is no specific rule to apply. Speed management is mostly about good sense and judgment. It is about being aware of the constantly changing conditions around you and changing your speed, as often as needed, to drive safely in those conditions. Many things besides weather, road conditions, and traffic could affect how fast you should drive. They would include things like: The general health and reaction time of the driver How familiar the driver is with the vehicle and the area he or she is driving in The weight of the load and the type of load The condition of the vehicle 32

37 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D The time of day or night Anything else that affects sight or space Here is a list of clues that will help you tell when you are driving too fast for conditions before it is too late to do something about it: Clues You are Driving Too Fast for Conditions You find yourself braking frequently in order to keep a safe following distance or to keep under the speed limit. You pass signs without catching what they say or miss an exit. You find that traffic is no longer flowing around you, but that you are moving through traffic. You are making frequent lane changes to gain position. You find yourself braking IN curves instead of, or in addition to, braking before them. You have feelings of anxiety or tension. You find yourself shortcutting the basic rules or procedures of an expert driver. You feel lateral motion when you take off ramps, on curves or turns, or when you are making a lane change. This is a sure sign you are driving too fast for conditions. Lateral motion is the sideways pull you feel. If the junk on your dashboard slides when you turn, you know you are taking the turn too fast. 33

38 Book 2 There is a myth spread in the driving community, mostly by impatient and careless drivers, that driving too slow is a hazard that should be avoided at all costs. While driving too slow could be a problem in some cases if taken to the extreme, the truth is that there are hundreds of times more accidents caused by driving too fast for conditions. Do not let CB radio chatter or the impatience of others push you into driving too fast. Activity Being a Stone in the Stream In order to maintain a safe following distance and have the time you need to react safely to unexpected situations, you should drive 2 3 miles an hour slower than the traffic around you. See yourself as a stone in the stream where traffic is flowing around you. What you should do: Step 1 Step 2 In this activity, you will practice driving like a stone in the stream through three different cities. Write down the names of these cities on the lines below. Activity Feeling Lateral Motion In a large truck, you do not feel the force of motion on curves or turns as much as you might in a smaller vehicle. This can be deceiving to a newer truck driver that is used to driving a car. By the time you really feel the lateral (sideways) motion in a large truck, it is often too late to slow down or correct your steering to prevent a skid or rollover. You need to learn how to sense small amounts of lateral motion and to drive smoothly. This activity will help you identify lateral motion and learn to control your vehicle to reduce it. 34

39 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D What you should do: Step 1 Place a small bag of unopened peanuts in the middle of the dashboard. Step 2 Step 3 Keep an eye on it while you and your trainer are driving. As you watch the bag, think about your answers to the following questions. Does it slide one way or another on curves or turns? How far and fast does it slide? How often does it slide How does the truck feel just before the bag starts to slide? What do you have to do to keep the bag from sliding? Step 4 Leave the bag of peanuts on the dashboard for 3 days or until you can drive on both the highway and in the city without the bag sliding. CAUTION Make sure the bag of peanuts you choose is small enough not to block your vision. Do not continue the activity if you find it distracts you and you are not able to drive safely. 35

40 Book 2 Activity Observing Speed Adaptation Speed adaptation affects our ability to judge accurately how fast we are driving without checking the speedometer. This activity will help you discover how much you can be affected by speed adaptation. Note: Your trainer should be awake and in the passenger seat when you do this activity. What you should do: Step 1 Do the activity once at the beginning of your driving shift and once at the end of your driving shift. Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Make sure you are on a stretch of remote, four-lane highway when there are no other vehicles for a long distance behind you and it is safe and legal to drive at 60 mph. Bring the vehicle up to 60 mph. Have your trainer cover the speedometer with a piece of paper and then slow the vehicle to what you think is half the speed you have been traveling (to 30 mph). When you feel you have stabilized your speed at 30 mph, have your trainer take the paper off the speedometer and see how fast you are actually traveling. Have your trainer write your actual speeds in the spaces below. Beginning of shift End of shift Answer this question: Did you get better or worse at judging your speed at the end of your shift? Step 7 Review the section on speed adaptation to learn why. 36

41 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Space Space Management: Creating a Safety Bubble Safe driving is the direct result of managing your sight, how well you can see ahead of, behind, and around the vehicle, your speed, how fast you are going, and your space, the area in front of, behind, to the sides, above and below your vehicle. Balancing these three elements gives you the time you need to react and keep accidents from happening. Think about space management as creating a safety zone around your vehicle. As long as you keep that space cushion, nothing will hit you and you will not hit anything else. It is more powerful than a sheet of steel or a brick wall. Yet some drivers are willing to give up their best source of protection, their space cushion, to gain a few feet or seconds that could be lost again around the next bend in the road. If you think this does not sound like a very good trade, you are right. It is not. Drivers of large trucks must always remember that their vehicle has six sides. You must be aware, at all times, of the following spaces around your vehicle. Professional drivers follow these space management practices. Allow 9 seconds of following distance on clear, dry roads Steer to the high side on curves Check mirrors every 5 8 seconds Make up for tailgaters by increasing your own following distance Look down for obstacles Look up when you are lost Space Ahead Failing to leave enough following distance is one of the main causes of serious accidents in large trucks. You must always have enough space to stop if something unexpected happens to the car or truck in front of you. Leaving 37

42 Book 2 enough following distance also lets you see more of what is happening down the road and around you. The general rule for following distance is 1 second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. Then add an additional 1 second for speeds over 40 mph. This would be a MINIMUM of 9 seconds for C.R. England vehicles traveling at highway speeds. Remember that this rule is for MINIMUM following distance. Any time your sight is limited, you increase your speed, or the road conditions are poor, you need to increase your following distance to make up for it so you always have the space and time you need to react safely. Following distance is the key to your protective space cushion. Do not let it drift away from you. Space Beside The two biggest challenges in managing the space beside your vehicle are lane control and limited visibility. Your trailer does not exactly follow the path of the tractor when the road curves or when making turns. This off tracking, and the fact that most trailers are wider than the tractor, means that you always need to keep an eye on where the back of the trailer is in the traffic lane. 38

43 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D On straight roads, work to keep your trailer centered in the lane with equal space on either side. You must have a constant pull on your trailer to keep it from drifting. Steer to the high side on curves to keep the end of your trailer in your lane. Also, learn to use your hood reference to know how far you can move to the right of your lane without having your trailer go out of the lane. Even when you use your flat, convex, and spot mirrors, there are still large areas where you cannot see on both sides and behind your vehicle. It is difficult to manage this space well when you cannot see in these blind spots. To make up for the limited sight you need to: Lean forward and back when looking in mirrors to see as much as possible Check your mirrors several times before you change lanes or pull out to pass Slow down 2 3 mph so that cars driving next to you will clear out of your blind spots where you can see them Take a direct look out your driver side window or passenger side bottom door window to make sure there are no cars directly beside you Check your mirrors as you gently make the move and be prepared to move back, if necessary. (It is not unusual for cars that were safely behind you to suddenly decide they want to zoom out and pass you before you move into their lane) Steps for Changing Lanes Safely Practice the following steps to change lanes safely. Steps to Safe Lane Changes Check mirrors and take a direct look Slow down 2-3 mph to clear your blind spots 39

44 Book 2 Steps to Safe Lane Changes Signal your intent Check mirrors again Accelerate slightly so you are pulling the trailer Move gently into the new lane Cancel your signal Before changing lanes or passing, you need to make sure you have the time and space to do it safely. Do not pass vehicles on two lane roads that are going only a few miles an hour slower than you are. It can take over a mile to complete the pass and there are few highways where you can clearly see oncoming traffic that far away. Avoid unnecessary lane changes. When driving through a city, pick a lane and stick in it as much as possible. Guidelines for Merging Into Traffic Use your signals Use the full length of the merge lane Do not cross over the gore space between the on-ramp and the highway Match traffic speed before you merge When approaching an on ramp, beware of drivers merging into your lane who may not yield the right of way as they make their merge Key points to manage the space beside you: Keep to the high side of curves Be aware of off-tracking Avoid roads or other areas which are not made for 53 foot trailers 40

45 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D Space Behind One of the biggest problems drivers have in managing the space behind their vehicle is dealing with tailgaters. When someone is driving too close behind you, it is natural to want to open the gap by driving faster. But, in most cases, tailgaters will just speed up themselves and continue to tailgate. Flashing taillights, tapping brakes, or slowing quickly are not safe ways to deal with tailgaters. The only safe way to deal with a tailgater is to slow down gently to increase the following distance in front of you. In other words, you have to add the tailgater s lack of following distance to your own. They have not left themselves enough space to react safely so to make up for it you have to have extra space so you can make your stops or moves even more slowly and smoothly than usual. Key points to manage the space behind you: Slow down for tailgaters Stay to the right whenever possible Following these measures allows tailgaters and other faster moving vehicles to drive safely around you. Space Below The space between the road and the lowest parts of your truck, the ground clearance, is less than you might think. On many models, fuel tanks are only 12 inches above the ground. Bumpers and running boards may be no more than 8 or 10 inches from the ground. In addition, clearance on fully retracted landing gear on some trailers may be as little as 6 inches! In comparison, most full size pickup trucks have a ground clearance of 18 to 24 inches. The ground clearance on a tractor-trailer designed for highway use is more like the ground clearance on a compact car than like that of a pickup truck. What this means is that you are likely to bottom out on a dip or high center going over a set of railroad tracks if you are not careful. 41

46 Book 2 Your rig may have the power to knock over a telephone pole or a road sign and barely feel it, but the stump could easily rip out the oil pan, puncture a hole in your fuel tank, and cripple your vehicle. You must always be aware of what you are driving on, or what you are driving over and the hazards any surface may present. Some of the main things you need to watch for in managing the space under your vehicle are: Uneven surfaces and debris in construction zones. Dips at the entrances and exits to parking lots. Take them slowly and, when possible, at an angle. Curbs and speed bumps. Gutters and ditches. Weeds and snow can hide debris or uneven surfaces. Even cut grass can be a problem. Why? Because the ground under the grass is likely to be soft. Not only can the truck sink into the soft surface causing landscape damage, but also that much weight can break sprinkler systems and the bent pipes can break through the turf and damage the underside of your vehicle. Railroad tracks can be a particular challenge for a tractor-trailer. In rural and industrial areas, roads over railroad tracks may not be in good repair. The dips and bumps going over the tracks make it difficult to avoid scraping parts on the under side of the tractor or snagging the trailer landing gear. If the tracks are higher than the main road, you could even high center and have to be towed off. 42 Approach difficult railroad tracks slowly and cautiously. Make sure you have enough time to back off if you have problems. If you can, take them at an angle and as soon as you feel any resistance, back up and increase your angle. If you are worried about any ground hazard, it is better to find a safe place to stop and get out to

47 Professional Apprentice Driver Series - Module D look before driving over it. Of course, this may not be possible when driving down a highway. But, you can often drive past a pick-up or delivery site, park, get out and look over the site, and then go around the block and approach it again once you know you can do so safely. Key points to manage the space below you: Be aware of the limited ground clearance of your vehicle Take dips and railroad tracks slowly and at an angle Space Above Pulling a 13 ½ foot tall trailer through city streets can feel like being an NBA basketball player visiting an elementary school. There are places where large trucks just do not fit. Get good directions to the customer site and back to the main highway. Call the customer and ask to speak with someone on the dock or in receiving who is more likely to know the best route for large trucks. Most topped trailer accidents happen when the driver is lost or looking for a customer location. By following the tips below, you may avoid getting into situations where you could top your trailer: Stay off the Parkways in the eastern states. They do not have enough clearance for C.R. England trailers. Beware of arched bridges or slanted angles on bridges. Drive under lower bridges at the highest point, usually the center of the bridge. Do not completely trust the posted clearance signs, especially in the New York and Chicago areas. Some postings may be incorrect. Beware of underpasses that come back up quickly. A trailer that clears going in may not clear going out if the grade is too steep. 43

48 Book 2 Watch for signs or anything hanging below the bridge. An empty trailer may not fit under the same bridge it cleared when loaded. Watch for anything that may have increased the height of the road surface; snow pack, ice, recent resurfacing. This can change the available space under the bridge. Also, be particularly careful under bridges during construction. Uneven surfaces can result in your trailer tipping to the side and it may not clear the bottom or side of a bridge when it is at an angle. Lookout for other low clearances that may touch the top of your trailer such as tree branches, signs, wires, cables, canopies, or awnings next to buildings. Never go into a bank, fast food, or other drive through window in a large truck. When planning your trip, check your low clearance tables in your atlas and use the C.R. England Low Clearance Guidebook. If you do not have a Low Clearance Guidebook in your Permit Book, ask your safety manager where you can pick one up. Key points to manage the space above you: Ask for clear directions Do not go off route Approach low clearance with extreme caution 44