Continuing Professional Education: Driving Safety Course
Learning Module
- Creator(s):
Here at ABC Corporation, driving is an important part of our day. We may be out meeting with clients or out introducing ourselves to potential clients. We may even be out getting lunch for a work meeting or getting supplies for the office. No matter the reason, it is always important to practice safe driving. You are our most valuable asset, and we want to ensure you return home safely to your family each day!
At the end of the course, you will be able to:
1. Identify potentially hazardous road conditions
2. Identify legal driving requirements
3. Know how to complete a vehicle safety check
4. Be familiar with how a driver’s mindset can impact driving
5. Identify how talking can distract drivers
6. Be aware of the dangers of using devices while driving
7. Know the company policy on usage of company cars
8. Know the steps you should take after being involved in a work-related vehicle collision
Upon completion of the 8 topics above, you will be required to write a 1,000 word response to a scenario and identify areas in which the employee would have been able to prevent a collision. You will also review at least two of your peer’s responses and complete a peer review rubric to help them identify any areas they may have missed.
http://extras.cgscholar.com/cgsurvey/securesurvey/depid/579268440cf2d2e948f43c63
Review list below and bring up any items that students may have missed:
1. Weather
2. Car issues such as brakes, tires, windshield, etc.
3. Speed
4. Drugs/Alcohol
5. Distracted Driving
6. Mindset of the Diver
Think of a time when you were involved in a traffic collision. If you've never been in a traffic collision, think of a time when a friend or family member was involved in a traffic collision.
What was the root cause of the collision?
What could have been done to prevent the collision?
POST AN UPDATE: Image you are in an accident that takes your life. Write about those that will suffer as a result and how their lives would change. Really think about how will your friends and family would be impacted. Does this change your view on driver safety importance?
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then, move on to the activity below.
Discuss the following legal driving requirements:
1. The driver must have a valid driver's license and it must be present in the vehicle at all times.
2. Drivers and passengers must be wearing seatbelts at all times.
3. Drivers must abide by posted speed limit.
4. Drivers must abide by all rules of the road.
5. Driver must ensure current proof of insurance is in the vehicle.
In order to drive one of our company vehicles, employees must meet all legal driving requirements listed below:
1. The driver must have a valid driver's license and it must be present in the vehicle at all times.
2. Drivers and passengers must be wearing seatbelts at all times.
3. Drivers must abide by posted speed limit.
4. Drivers must abide by all rules of the road.
5. Driver must ensure current proof of insurance is in the vehicle.
POST AN UPDATE: Research laws in your state regarding law violations in relation to speeding and seatbelt use. Include information on penalties for violations.
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then, move on to the activity below.
-Check tires visually and then check tire pressure if any appear to be low (Have students watch video and discuss).
-Verify that turn signals, head lights, brake lights and tail lights are in working order.
-Remove snow or ice from all windows before driving.
-Ensure that the insurance card is in the glove box.
-Check to ensure there is enough gas in the tank.
Vehicle Check
Always check your vehicle for safety before driving. Here are some tips:
Here is a video on checking for tire safety:
If any vehicle issues need to be addressed, email vehicle services and provide vehicle details as well as the details of the issue. They will respond within 24 hours. Never drive a car that does not pass a safety check!
POST AN UPDATE: Explain a time when you did not complete a vehicle check and how it negatively impacted your driving experience. Explain what you should do next time.
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then move on to this week's topic below.
Have you ever driven and later thought to yourself "maybe that wasn't a good idea'?
There are many situations in which a driver's mindset can cause a collision.
ACTIVITY: In small groups, rank the following items: 1-Being the least likely to cause and accident and 10- being the most likely to cause and accident:
_____ You're driving to the hospital after a call from the police stating your loved on is in the emergency room.
_____ You're driving after a big fight with your boss.
_____ You're late to meet a client and stuck in traffic.
_____ You're driving late at night, after a long day, and you can't stop yawning.
_____ You're lost and feeling nervous.
_____ You've just witnessed a collision right in frot of you and are shaken up.
_____You've been driving for 25 miles in a construction zone.
_____ Your child is having a tantrum in the back seat.
_____ You skipped breakfast and lunch today.
_____ You're expecting a phone call from your lawyer and you are experiencing high levels of anxiety awaiting the call.
POST AN UPDATE: Choose the mindest that you feel would most negativly impact your ability to drive. Explain why and give examples. What can you do to avoid driving during these times?
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then move on to this week's topic below.
-Hands-free device only
-No talking in school zones
-No talking in construction zones
Talking while driving is not an unusual activity, but it can often distract the driver. Some drivers talk to others in the car. Some drivers talk on the phone using a hands-free device. Remember, you are in charge of the vehicle. If you feel that talking is a distraction, you need to reduce the distraction.
So, what are some ways in which you can reduce talking as a distraction?
POST AN UPDATE: Discuss a time when you were distracted by talking while driving or a time when you witnessed someone that was distracted by driving. What could have been done to avoid the distraction?
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then move on to this week's topic below.
> TIP: Advise participants that if they are easily tempted to look at their phone, they should place it in the back seat or trunk until they get to their destination.
Watch the short video depicting a serious texting and driving scenario:
Texting and driving is NEVER allowed.
The text can wait!
Pull over to a safe place if you need to text or email. Put the car in park before you pick up your phone.
POST AN UPDATE: Research the impact of texting while driving. Is is similar to driving under the influence? How?
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then move on to this week's topic below.
Discuss the following corporate regulations regarding company cars:
Consequences for failure to meet any of the above requirements will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Here at ABC Corporation, we take our driving rules and regulations VERY seriously:
Consequences for failure to meet any of the above requirements will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
POST AN UPDATE: To help you get a better understanding of why we must impose such strict company policies, research how much American companies spend each year on employee related vehicle accidents. Think about the implications of an accident on your office budget.
To begin class, review updates from last class and have a few students present and discuss their update with the class. Then move on to this week's topic below.
If you are involved in an accident without injuries:
If you are involved in an accident without injuries:
If you are involved in an accident with injuries, take care of yourself and the other victims first. Then, follow the protocol above.
This project should be completed in small groups. Read through the following scenario and write a one-page assessment of the errors made by the driver. Include what the driver did wrong as well as an alternative action the driver should have taken. Also provide what consequence you think the company should give to the driver. After you submit your project you will be asked to review another group’s work. See how their answers varied from yours, and provide feedback based on the rubric. You will also be provided feedback on your assessment.
Scenario:
Janet is headed to Office Depot to pick up monthly office supplies. She lets the secretary know where she is going and when she will return. She signs out the vehicle. Janet hurries out to the vehicle as it is very cold and snowy today. She decides to let the car run for a bit so that she doesn’t have to brush the snow off the car. She decides to call her sister on her cell phone while she waits in the car. Janet and her sister get into a heated family argument and Janet hangs up on her sister. At this point, Janet can see about half of the windshield, so she decides to head out, hoping the rest will melt as the car continues to warm up.
Janet is so upset by the conversation she just had with her sister that she decides to call her best friend to vent. She forgot to pair her phone to the car’s Bluetooth before she left the office, so she decides just to use one hand to hold her phone. After all, she only needs one hand to drive. Her best friend tells her she can’t talk now, but is free for lunch in 30 minutes. Janet tells her friend she’ll pick her up in 30 minutes. Now Janet has 30 minutes to kill before lunch. She decides to stop at Target and pick up a few items. When Janet exits the car in the Target parking lot, she notices that the front tire looks low. Janet thinks it is odd, but isn’t really that worried about it considering she’s only driving in town. After completing her shopping, Janet heads to her friend’s office to pick her up.
Janet picks up her friend and they decide to eat at a local restaurant. As soon as they get there, Janet asks the waitress to bring her the biggest Margarita they have since she’s still fuming from her fight with her sister. She drinks the entire Margarita during lunch, but is confident she’s under the legal limit, because it was only one drink. After lunch, Janet drops her friend back off at her office.
Janet pulls out of the parking lot at her friend’s office and realizes she’s not sure how to get to Office Depot from this location. She proceeds to search for Office Depot on her GPS while driving. She takes off her seatbelt as it is hindering her ability to reach the screen. She does not even realize she’s weaving in and out of her lane while she’s searching. Finally, she finds it in her GPS and is off to get office supplies.
Janet spends an hour and a half in Office Depot. When she returns to the company car, it is once again covered in snow. Janet thinks it is way too cold out to stand outside and brush off the windows and lights. So, Janet just starts the car, uses the windshield wipers a few times and puts the car in drive. As she heads back to the office, she realizes she’s been gone for quite some time and so she steps on the gas, going well over the speed limit. She also realizes she hasn’t checked her text or emails for a while. She searches her purse in the passenger seat for her phone and finally finds it. She glances at a few texts from her sister, but decides not to respond because she’s still mad. Then she opens her email. Her boss asked her an hour ago where the keys were for the conference room because a client is waiting. Janet panics when she remembers that the key is in her desk drawer. She decides to respond to the email quickly and just write “in my top drawer”.
Suddenly Janet looks up to see she’s in the wrong lane, she jerks the wheel and spins into the ditch. Janet is not injured but the windshield is cracked and there are scratches all over the front bumper. Janet decides not to call her boss or the police as she does not want to get into trouble. She calls a tow truck and instructs them to take the vehicle to her brother’s garage so he can fix it for her.
Janet’s brother can’t get the parts for three days and so Janet realizes her plan to hide the accident won’t work. She calls her boss and fills her in on what happened.
Thank you for completing ABC Corporation’s Annual Driver Safety course! Your grade will automatically be sent to you, your manager and your HR manager. If you have any questions or comments regarding this course, feel free to email vehicle services. You may receive an anonymous survey about this course via email in the next week. Your response and feedback is not required, but would be greatly appreciated. See you next year!