Crunch Prevention Part I

OK, drivers, listen up!

Looks like I’m going to have to get out my yellow vest and bus driver hat and give a quick safety class.

Too many accidents collisions are happening with our rigs.  HOPEFULLY this will give you some kind of knowledge so it can be avoided in the future.

These keys can be found the Smith System website.  They all have the ® by them because they are registered trademarks of the Smith System.

KEY #1 AIM HIGH IN STEERING ®

I’m not talking Aim High as in the Chair Farce Army Air Corps Air Force (I’m glad my brother doesn’t read this blog, just some little old lady from Pokipsee), I’m talking aim high along the road.  About 12-15 seconds in front of your rig. That would be about 3-4 city blocks or to the end of your headlights.

Looking ahead helps you see and anticipate your response to problems being experienced by others. Especially that MVC you’re about to become part of!

You can also spot things that can (and normally will) cause you to lose traction like puddles, ice that the salt/cinders/sand hasn’t helped with.

If you CAN’T see that well because of the weather, SLOW DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You need not do 45 mph in a 35 mph zone to go to the call, you can still get there doing 30-35 and do plenty good to your patient/hit the hydrant/get the cat out of the tree.

Poor weather not makes it hard to see, but at times it makes it hard to STOP! (I’ve hydroplaned the engine and slid on the ice more than my fair share of times to know this)

KEY #2 GET THE BIG PICTURE ®

I’m not talking about the 8 x 10 of me in my bad boy sunglasses chillin’ on the steps outside my BNCOC barracks.  I’m talking the one on the road.

How can you tell that Johnny T. Leadfoot is impatiently waiting for me to pull the stop sign in on my school bus if you’re looking completely at the backside of a semi?

Give yourself at least 4 seconds (car) (6 seconds in a large vehicle (engine/squad/ambo/ladder truck) and 8 seconds in bad weather) so you can actually see what’s around.That extra time helps you to follow Key #1 and, when used with Key #3, will keep that rig nice and shiny when you get on scene.

KEY #3 KEEP YOUR EYES MOVING ®

Not from the road to your burger to your coffee cup to your cell phone back to the road!

Glance at your mirrors (ALL OF THEM) about once every 3-5 seconds.

When you give that fixed stare at the road in front of you, your eyes are going to get tired. You also don’t get the big picture of what’s going on.

I’ve bored you enough with these first 3 keys.  I’ll put more in with the last 2 keys in my next post.

The Smith System Keys listed above are registered trademarks of The Smith System.