Seatbelt Safety

Monthly Training Topic

Ryder Safety and Loss Prevention

204/22/23 Proprietary and Confidential 2

SEATBELT SAFETY

Information Objectives

Participants Will Know:

● What is the Seatbelt law;● The management and administrative costs of not wearing your

safety belt; and● Seatbelt Myths.

The information in this program comes from the US Department of Transportation, FMCSA “Increasing Safety Belt use In Your Company,” March 2006.

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COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BELT LAW

Safety Belt Use For CMV Drivers Is The Law

Title 49, Section 392.16 of the Code Of Federal Regulations States;

“A commercial motor vehicle that has a seat belt assembly installed at the driver seat shall not be driven unless the driver has properly restrained himself / herself with the seat belt assembly.”

The following is a US Department of Transportation Study

A recent study conducted by the US Department of Transportation shows only 54% of commercial motor vehicle drivers wear safety belts compared to 82% of passenger vehicle drivers.

In 2004, close to half of the 634 commercial motor vehicle driver killed in crashes were not wearing safety belts. Of those killed, 168 of them were ejected from their vehicles, and nearly 3 out of 4 were not wearing safety belts.

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Not wearing your safety belt is costly.Not wearing your safety belt is costly. Motor vehicle crashes of all types are the leading cause of lost work

time and on-the-job fatalities in the U.S.

In 2004, 634 professional truck drivers were killed in crashes.

A total of 761 occupants of large trucks died in crashes.

Transportation incidents were the number one cause of on-the-job deaths with 2,460 fatalities recorded out of a total of 5,703 fatal occupational injuries recorded.

The average cost to a company per injury truck crash is $174,367 and per fatal truck crash is $3,469,962.

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The Direct Costs Of Not Wearing Your Safety Belt

Medical care and disability payments; physical and vocational rehabilitation,

The loss of special knowledge or skills,

Recruiting and replacing personnel,

Reassigning and / or re-training employees,

Lost business due to absenteeism,

Legal Fees, and,

Increase in long-term rates for worker’s compensation, property liability, commercial auto, and health insurance.

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The Indirect Cost Of Employees Not Wearing Safety Belt Operational delays and losses resulting from the absence of the

injured employee’s services;

Diminished company reputation;

Lost productivity resulting from using less experienced replacements, time taken by other employees to “fill in,” or to train replacements;

Lowered employee morale;

Regulatory and enforcement actions; and

Inability to attract new employees and retain existing employees.

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Why Wear Your Safety Belt?FATAL ACCIDENT STATISTICS In 2004, 634 drivers of large trucks died Almost half of the 634 commercial drivers killed in crashes were not wearing safety

belts Of the 168 drivers who died as a result of being ejected from their trucks, 3 out of 4 of

them were not wearing safety belts 5,190 fatalities occurred in large truck-related crashes 67% of truck drivers killed who were not wearing safety belt, were involved in single

vehicle crashes

NON FATAL ACCIDENT STATISTICS About 27,000 large truck occupants suffered nonfatal injuries in crashes, and of

those, 4,000 were incapacitated

51% of truck-occupant-fatalities in large trucks involve rollovers. In a rollover, a truck driver is 80% less likely to die when wearing a safety belt

29% of the truck drivers surveyed reported that they had been involved in a truck crash at some point in their career

116,000 injuries occurred in large truck-related crashes 23,000 drivers of large trucks are estimated to have been injured in crashes

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Why Seatbelts Are Effective Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious

improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occurs in less than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.

In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when they were ejected from their cabs during a crash.

In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to move forward at 30 mph causing his/her to hit the frontal components of the cab interior at about 30 mph. This is the same velocity a person falling from the top of a three story building would experience upon impact with the ground.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 1MYTH 1

Safety belts are uncomfortable and restrict movement

FACTFACT

The 2005 Transportation Research Board study on commercial driver’s safety belt use found many driver’s do not find wearing safety belts to be uncomfortable or restrictive of their movements. Once they correctly adjust the seat, lap and shoulder belt, most drivers find that discomfort and restrictive movement can be alleviated.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 2MYTH 2

Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision that doesn't affect anyone else

FACTFACT

Not wearing a safety belt can certainly affect your family and loved ones. It can affect other motorists since wearing a safety belt can help you avoid losing control of your vehicle in a crash. It's also the Law; Federal and State regulations require commercial vehicle drivers to buckle up. Safety belts are a driver’s last line of defense in a crash.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 3MYTH 3

Safety belts prevent your escape from a burning or submerged vehicle

FACTFACT

Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious, improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occur in less than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 4MYTH 4

It’s better to be thrown clear of the wreckage in the event of a crash

FACTFACT

An occupant of a vehicle is four times as likely to be fatally injured when thrown from the vehicle. In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when they were ejected from their cabs during a crash.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 5MYTH 5

It takes too much time to fasten your safety belt 20 times a day

FACTFACT

Buckling up takes about three seconds. Even buckling up 20 times a day requires only one minute.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 6MYTH 6

A large truck will protect you. Safety belts are unnecessary

FACTFACT

In 2004, 634 drivers of large trucks died in truck crashes and 303 of those truck drivers were not wearing safety belts.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 7MYTH 7

Safety belts aren't necessary for low-speed driving

FACTFACT

In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit frontal interior components (such as the steering wheel, instrument panel, or windshield) at about 30 mph. This is the same velocity a person falling from the top of a three-story building would experience upon impact with the ground.

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SEATBELT MYTH

MYTH 8MYTH 8

A lap belt offers sufficient protection

FACTFACT

The lap and shoulder belt design has been proven to hold a driver securely behind the wheel in the event of a crash, greatly increasing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle and minimizing the chance for serious injury or death.

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KNOWLEDGE TESTKNOWLEDGE TEST

1. In a crash, being thrown from a vehicle:

a) Increases the chance of death or serious injury;b) Decreases the chance of death or serious injures; orc) Has no effect on the chance of death or serious injury.

2. If a vehicle is in a crash and becomes submerged in water, a driver’s chances ofescaping from the vehicle are:a) Decreased by wearing a safety belt;b) Increased by wearing a safety belt; orc) Not affected by wearing a safety belt.

3. Safety belts prevent injury:a) Most often on short trips;b) Most often on long trips; orc) On all trips.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST

4. Safety belts prevent injury:

a) Most often in bad weather;

b) Most often in good weather; or

c) In all weather conditions.

5. A driver’s ability to control the vehicle in an emergency is:

a) Hampered by safety belt;

b) Unaffected by safety belts; or

c) Close to home.

6. Most Fatal crashes Happen:

a) Close to home;

b) On long trips;

c) On expressways; or

d) In all weather conditions.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST

7. Safety belts can Reduce the chances of crippling injury injury among occupants of large trucks by about.

a) 29 percent

b) 50 percent

c) 80 percent

8. In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit frontal interior components (such as the steering wheel or windshield ) at about 30 mph. The is the same velocity as a person falling from the top of a _____________upon impact with the ground.

a) Thirty story building

b) Three story building

c) One story building

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Knowledge Test Answers

1.a)

2.a)

3.c)

4.c)

5.b)

6.b)

7.b)

8.b)

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IT ONLY TAKES 3 SECONDS TO BUCKLE UP

DEADIS

FOREVER!!!

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