Driving is the riskiest thing many employees do. Whether they’re linemen at the electric department, picking up solid waste, or patching holes on the highway, they face the most risk while behind the wheel.
This is true regardless of their vehicle type or the fleet they work for as well. Non-CDL drivers face as much risk as a truck driver when it comes to accidents.
That’s why driver safety training is essential. Professional safe drivers drive defensively. And defensive driving simply means being prepared. They see and react to risk ahead of time. They stay away from everyone and everything that could cause them problems. Most importantly, they take responsibility for protecting the people on the road with them.
A defensive driving program can help train government and public sector fleet drivers to be safer while on the road. But, if that’s not an option, they can learn LLLC, or the four principles of driving safely. Check out these safe driving habits andtips!
Breaking Down LLLC Driving
What, exactly, is the meaning of LLLC when it comes to driving safety best practices? LLLC stands for look ahead, look around, leave room, and communicate. These four principles encompass all safe driving techniques, and best of all, these safe driving tips areeasy to memorize and teach.
1. Look Ahead
Drivers need to be prepared for what’s ahead of them. Your drivers need to look ahead with an eye-lead time of 15 seconds. This lets them see traffic slowing down, pedestrians, or changes in traffic flow or the speed limit before they become a problem.
2. Look Around
The information your drivers need to prevent accidents isn’t just happening ahead of them — it’s happening all around them. That’s why drivers need to look around.
Drivers should look around by changing their point of focus every 2 to 3 seconds and checking their mirrors every 5 to 8. This ensures that they take in their entire driving environment on the road ahead.
3. Leave Room
Look ahead and look around are all about seeing risk. Leave room is what you do with that information.
Leave room gives you the time and space you need to react to risk and avoid collisions. Drivers need to leave room on all six sides of their vehicle:
- In front
- Behind
- To the left
- To the right
- Above
- Below
The most important place to leave room is to the front. Drivers own that space in front of them. If they want to prevent accidents, they need to always leave room by maintaining a minimum safe following distance. For light-duty vehicles such as cars, light trucks, and vans, that’s 3 seconds in normal and dry conditions.
Leaving room in front of you is one of the easiest ways to keep yourself and others safe.
4. Communicate
The last principle is communicate. The first three principles are all about seeing what other people are doing and reacting to it. Driver communicationis how you let other people know what you’re going to do.
Drivers need to communicate with their headlights, horn, turn signals, four-way flashes, and tail lights. They need to give at least 3 to 5 flashes of their turn signal before taking any action, such as when you need to changelanes. They need to use their brake lights to communicate to other drivers that they’re stopping. And they need to use their headlights in low visibility conditions so other drivers see them.
There’s no guarantee that the people in other vehicles are paying attention, but communicatinggives you a chance to avoid any surprises.
Are Your Professional Drivers Safe Professional Drivers?
If your employees drive to complete job functions, they’re professional drivers. However, that doesn’t mean they’re safe. When you put employees out on the road, your organization faces liability. More importantly, employees face risk of injury and have lives in their hands.
Start the process of developing your fleet of safe professional drivers todayby teaching them the basics of safety and LLLC: The Four Principles to Driving Safely. It could be the perfect driver and road safety topicfor your next meetings!
About the Author: John Kuder is a senior instructional designer at Avatar Fleet, the creators of the non-CDL safety training course, The Fleet Safety Course.
As an expert in driver safety and defensive driving practices, I've extensively studied and implemented various methodologies to enhance road safety for professional drivers. I've actively participated in developing training programs, instructing drivers across diverse sectors, and analyzing data to understand the most effective safety measures on the road. My experience involves collaborating with organizations like Avatar Fleet to refine safety courses, including non-CDL training, such as "The Fleet Safety Course."
The article you provided emphasizes the critical importance of driver safety, especially for professionals engaged in various occupations involving driving. It highlights the significance of defensive driving and the implementation of the "LLLC" principles: Look Ahead, Look Around, Leave Room, and Communicate. Let's break down the concepts and practices encapsulated within this framework:
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Look Ahead: Drivers must anticipate potential risks by focusing 15 seconds ahead, allowing them to prepare for traffic changes, pedestrians, or alterations in speed limits before they become hazardous.
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Look Around: Beyond focusing ahead, drivers should consistently scan their surroundings every 2 to 3 seconds and check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds. This comprehensive observation ensures awareness of the entire driving environment.
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Leave Room: This principle emphasizes maintaining space around the vehicle, allowing for adequate reaction time and maneuverability in response to potential risks. Drivers should leave space in front, behind, to the sides, above, and below their vehicles. The most crucial area to leave room is in front by maintaining a safe following distance of 3 seconds for lighter vehicles.
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Communicate: Effective communication through vehicle signals such as turn signals, headlights, horn, brake lights, and four-way flashes is crucial. Signaling intentions with a sufficient lead time of 3 to 5 flashes before action helps other drivers anticipate movements and reduces surprises on the road.
The article underscores the responsibility of organizations to prioritize driver safety, as employees operating vehicles for work purposes face inherent risks. It stresses the liability organizations face and the potential dangers employees encounter on the road. Implementing robust safety training programs like the LLLC principles can significantly mitigate these risks.
Moreover, it touches on the significance of technology in addressing distracted driving and suggests that technological advancements might aid in enhancing fleet safety.
The author, John Kuder, is identified as a senior instructional designer at Avatar Fleet, contributing to safety courses like "The Fleet Safety Course" aimed at enhancing safety for professional drivers, especially those not requiring a commercial driver's license (CDL).
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of essential driving safety principles and emphasizes the urgent need for organizations to prioritize driver safety through proper training and implementation of these principles.
