Heinrich Says…

At our fleet, accidents generally fall into four categories: backing, rear-enders, hitting fixed objects, and intersection collisions. In the November issue, I laid out a lesson plan you can use at your next driver meeting to change habits that lead to accidents while backing (the most prevalent type of accident at our fleet), using the principles of H.A. Heinrich, the risk-analysis pioneer who worked in the insurance business in the early 1900s. Now I want to look at the other three situations. I start with facts to help drivers understand the financial and human toll each type of accident has on the company. Then we play “Heinrich Says” and discuss the right answer.

Meeting Topic:
Rear-end Accidents
The Facts: Rear-enders are our second-largest type of accident with average claim costs of $3317 US. In most cases, there are three root causes: following too close, driving too fast for the conditions, or inattention.

Have your drivers take this test: The proper following distance in normal conditions should be: a) two seconds; b) five car lengths; c) four seconds; d) 60 feet

Heinrich Says: Four seconds. Ask your drivers how they measure and maintain their following distance. One trick is to pick a landmark (a signpost, a shadow, etc.) and once the vehicle ahead crosses that point, start counting-one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one-thousand three, one-thousand four. Your vehicle shouldn’t cross that fixed point before you’re finished.

Also ask what influences how fast your drivers decide to go-traffic, weather, road conditions, etc. To really get a discussion going, ask for a list of distractions they see affecting other drivers-cell phones, eating, reading, shaving, girl-watching, etc.

Meeting Topic:
Collisions with Fixed Objects
The Facts: This is our third-most prominent type of accident; the average claim cost is $985 US. The root causes are: driving with restricted forward vision; lazy eyes and failure to scan mirrors; and that “gone to the Bahamas” stare-daydreaming. How can we address these?

Heinrich Says:

Stay in the lane of least resistance-the lane with the best forward visibility and the least risk of potential conflict. If your vision of the road ahead is blocked, you have only four options: move left, move right, back off, or pass the vehicle ahead. Choose the one that makes the most sense.

Work those lazy eyes. In city traffic, a driver should be scanning sidewalk to sidewalk up to two blocks ahead so he can identify potential risks and avoid them. Continuous eye movement also prevents daydreaming and fights fatigue.

Meeting Topic:
Intersections
The Facts: Our fourth-largest group of accidents is one of the most costly, since the result is often personal injury, property damage, long-term disabilities, and even death.

Causes include inattention, failing to look both ways prior to entering an intersection, impaired drivers, red-light runners, and simply trusting stop lights to stop cars.

Heinrich Says: Look left, then right, then left again before entering any intersection. Remember, stoplights don’t stop cars. People do.

I was out with a friend one day. As we approached a traffic light it changed to yellow, so he hammered down and we blew through the intersection. My buddy looked at me and said, “Don’t worry. My brother taught me how to drive.” As we approached the next light, it turned from yellow to red and again my friend stomped on the gas. “Don’t worry,” he said. “My brother taught me to drive.” I was terrified. The next light had just turned green, but as we approached the intersection my buddy locked up the brakes and brought the car to a screaming, smoking stop. He looked over at me and said, “My brother usually comes this way.”

Heinrich Says: When sitting at a light at an intersection, think of yourself like a football player. You’ve got the ball and you need your offensive line to block for you.

When stopped at a light in multiple lanes of traffic, hesitate for two seconds when the light turns green and let the vehicles on either side enter the intersection ahead of you so they act as your blockers.

Also look for signals that a light ahead is stale-for instance, the “Don’t Walk” sign is flashing. Get off your accelerator early: you’ll gain an edge while saving fuel and wear and tear on brakes.