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🚗 Vehicle & Driving Safety

Topic: Backing accidents, seat belts, distracted driving, speed limits, pedestrian safety, load securement, pre-trip inspections, construction zones, and fatigue Duration: 7–10 minutes Required: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.601 (Motor Vehicles), 1926.602 (Equipment), DOT regulations for commercial vehicles

The Stats​

  • Backing accidents are the #1 vehicle-related incident on construction sites — an estimated 1 in 4 vehicle collisions involve backing
  • Fatalities — Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in construction; many are preventable with seat belts
  • Pedestrian strikes — Workers on foot are hit by vehicles every year; speed and visibility are key factors
  • Distracted driving — Cell phone use while driving increases crash risk by roughly 4x
  • Fatigue — Drowsy driving contributes to an estimated 100,000+ crashes annually in the U.S.

OSHA requires: Seat belts in vehicles; vehicles equipped with horns, mirrors, and backup alarms where applicable; workers trained on site vehicle hazards.

Backing — The #1 Hazard​

Before Backing​

  • Walk the path — Check behind and around the vehicle first
  • Use a spotter — When available; maintain eye contact; agree on hand signals
  • Sound the horn — Before moving
  • Go slow — Creep in reverse; be ready to stop

When Backing​

  • Mirrors — Use all mirrors; look over shoulder
  • No blind backing — If you can't see, get out and look
  • Stop if unsure — Never guess; verify path is clear

Spotter Rules​

  • Spotter must be visible to driver at all times
  • Use clear hand signals (stop, go left, go right, slow)
  • Driver stops immediately if contact is lost

Seat Belts​

  • Always buckle up — Before putting vehicle in gear
  • All passengers — Everyone buckled, every trip
  • Short trips count — Most crashes happen within 25 miles of home
  • No exceptions — Moving vehicles require seat belts

Distracted Driving​

Don'tDo
Use phone (call, text, scroll)Pull over to a safe spot if you must use the phone
Eat or drink while drivingPark to eat or drink
Adjust GPS or radio while movingSet destination and music before driving
Reach for items in the cabPull over to retrieve items

Hands-free is not risk-free — Talking on the phone, even hands-free, still diverts attention.

Speed Limits on Site​

  • Follow posted limits — Typically 10–15 mph on site
  • Pedestrian areas — Slow down near workers on foot
  • Dust and mud — Reduce speed; visibility and traction are limited
  • Parking areas — Watch for vehicles and people backing out

Pedestrian Safety​

Drivers​

  • Assume pedestrians don't see you — Yield to foot traffic
  • Make eye contact — Before proceeding near pedestrians
  • Honk when needed — Only to warn, not to rush
  • High-visibility zones — Extra caution in congested areas

Pedestrians​

  • Stay visible — High-vis vest; avoid blind spots
  • Don't assume — Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
  • Never walk behind — Moving or idling vehicles
  • Designated paths — Use pedestrian routes when available

Load Securement​

  • Inspect — Straps, chains, tie-downs before driving
  • Secure — Load must not shift, tip, or fall
  • Tarp — Cover loose materials (gravel, dirt) when required
  • Re-check — After first few miles; adjust if needed

Pre-Trip Inspection​

Before each shift: tires (inflation, tread), lights, mirrors, horn, brakes, fluids, load securement. If anything fails — do not drive. Report and repair.

Driving in Construction Zones​

  • Reduce speed — Obey reduced limits
  • Increase following distance — More space to react
  • Stay alert — Workers, equipment, lane changes
  • Merge early — Don't wait until the last moment
  • No phone — Distraction is especially dangerous in work zones

Fatigue​

  • Sleep — 7–8 hours before driving
  • Signs — Yawning, drifting, missed exits = pull over
  • Break — Every 2 hours or 100 miles on long trips
  • Report — If too tired to drive safely, say so — no penalty

Discussion Questions​

  1. Who will spot when we're backing today? What are our hand signals?
  2. What's our site speed limit? Where are the high-pedestrian areas?
  3. Has everyone completed a pre-trip inspection? Any issues to report?
  4. Are we carrying a load? Is it properly secured?

Today's Commitment​

"I will always use a spotter when backing, buckle up before moving, stay off my phone while driving, and complete a pre-trip inspection every day."

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