Driving Safety

Driving is one of the most hazardous things we do because we perform the task hundreds of times in the course of our daily lives. We tend to take it for granted. Based on recent accident trends, vehicle accidents are the source of more deaths and serious injuries to wildland firefighters than any other single cause.

• To be a safe driver you have to want to be one. Take a good, hard look at your driving habits. Are you training yourself to do the right things the right way, like fastening your seat belt, checking your mirrors, and maintaining safe following distances?
• Inattentiveness is a major contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents within the wildland firefighting community. Since the average adult attention span is 15 to 20 minutes, we must develop techniques that allow us to refocus our attention on our driving.
• Many things can lure our attention away from our driving, such as fatigue, eating and drinking, reading directions and maps, writing, cell phone and radio use, conversation within the vehicle, and music.
  • Drive only when you are well-rested and alert, and avoid driving during the hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Take a 10- to 15-minute break after every 2 hours.
  • Practice situational awareness; be aware of what is happening in front, behind, and on both sides of your vehicle.
  • Never drive when taking medications that make you drowsy.
  • Delegate navigation and communication to a passenger, or pull over.
  • By constantly moving your vision, checking mirrors and distant road conditions, you can avoid highway hypnosis and daydreaming.
  • Avoid eating or drinking while driving.
  • When talking with passengers, keep your eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel. Avoid serious or argumentative conversations.
  • Switch off driving with others if multiple people are in the vehicle.
  • Do not be in a hurry; be patient.
• Safe driving starts with a safe vehicle. Something as simple as underinflated tires can have serious consequences. Before operating any vehicle, do a walk-around to look for potential problems, make sure the lights and blinkers work, and adjust your seat and mirrors. If it is the first time you have driven the vehicle, make yourself aware of where everything is.