Avoid collisions by seeing, evaluating, and acting upon all information available. Space cushion driving the main concept of the smith system is space cushion driving. The smith system was developed by harold smith in 1952. Use your peripheral visionstop the fixed habit stare 4. How many people must be in a car when driving a carpool lane. Holiday driving dangers and safety tips smith system driver. Time to react to volatile and complex driving environments.
With their advanced viewing skills, smith system drivers see problems well ahead. Aim high in steering this foundational element of the smith5keys is particularly important for bus and transit drivers. Following the 5 rules of the smith system can dramatically reduce the risk of major accidents on both highways and roads. We deliver behindthewheel instruction to more than 250,000 drivers annually and serve customers on every continent. Aim high in your steering to help stay in your lane. That means looking farther ahead on the road, rather than just in front of your car, and it results in greater security and preparedness. Smith motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the united states and typically the 2nd leading cause of firefighter fatalities. Although holiday traffic is well known for its bumpertobumper environment, taking the time to adjust your following distance and looking for the safest. When driving, look for things with crash potential. Aim high in steering the farther down the road you see while driving and hes talking about seeing, not just looking, the less likely you are to have a wreck, he says, adding be aware of whats going on around you. Smith system of defensive driving defensive driving characteristics. Aim high in steering repeated glances well ahead at the center of the intended path lane that you are traveling.
Aim high in steering the farther down the road you see while driving and hes talking about seeing, not just looking, the less likely you are to have a wreck, he says, adding be aware of. We give fleet drivers of all types the knowledge and tools to make better decisions behind the wheel. Make sure they see you you will also learn from them the proper methods and techniques that will help you become a responsible, defensive, and. The institute was the first professional driver training company.
Defensive driving principles and how to teach them. Over half of todays fortune 500 companies have used their advanced driving techniques to achieve superior safety records. Make sure they see you you will also learn from them the proper methods and techniques that will help you become a responsible, defensive, and lowrisk driver. Professional driver keith zecman recently shared his take on the smith systems five keys to safe driving. The smith system was developed in 1952 by harold smith to help drivers learn proper driving habits and prevent collisions. Ritter drivers share tips related to how they stay safe on the road. Jun 03, 2014 the smith system was developed in 1952 by harold smith to help drivers learn proper driving habits and prevent collisions. Aug 24, 2010 the smith system, wellknown throughout the school transportation industry, comprises five key principles for space cushion driving and collision avoidance, including. M ore than half of fortune 500 fleets use smith system for driver safety training. Staying alert of the dangers and traffic ahead not only avoids rearend collisions, but it also. The 5 keys to truck driving safety pam driving jobs. Good defensive drivers will have knowledge of the traffic laws and the basics about. Using the smith5keys is a good starting point for every bus driver who wants to stay safer on the roads. He advocates aim high in steeringa key component of the smith system for driving.
The smith system is the name given to a driving method that was developed by harold smith in 1948. Our eyes are meant to work for us at walking speed and not the. The system was developed in 1952 by harold smith when smith developed the smith system driver improvement institute. Smith system, aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, make sure they see you, are federally registered trademarks licensed exclusively to smith system driver improvement institute, inc.
The best way to anticipate others movements is to make eye contact with them. Is it legal to grab the keys of car that was in hit and run and the driver is trying to runaway from the. There are five basic principles that a learner should be well informed on. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Oct 08, 2015 it is a driving program developed by harold smith in 1952, to increase the safety of a companys commercial drivers and fleet. What are the five rules of the smith system in driving. Aim high in steering avoid collisions by seeing, evaluating and acting upon distant information. Look ahead at least 15 seconds in traffic to see where youll be and anticipate what you might need to do to manage that situation. Clients choose smith system because we teach drivers to drive differently. The smith system, wellknown throughout the school transportation industry, comprises five key principles for space cushion driving and collision avoidance, including. Ppt smith system powerpoint presentation free to download. Aim high in steering the farther down the road you see.
The average person has not adjusted visually or mentally to the higher speeds of motor vehicles. Sees moving and fixed objects at least a block away in city traffic and at least one half mile ahead on expressways or highways. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Depending on surroundings and circumstances, as a general rule, at 30 miles per hour, a driver can usually see at. A visual lead time of 15 seconds at 30 mph is approximately 660 feet, and at 45 mph its roughly 990 feet get the big picture. Aim high in steering the farther down the road you see while. Rules of driving based on the smith systemspec spec on the job. When possible, double your eye lead time to 30 seconds, looking three blocks ahead on surface streets, and a half mile ahead on highways. The smith system teaches drivers to remember the following 5 keys. Aim high in steering look 15 seconds into your future. Chris pulliam is a regional manager and a certified instructor for smith system driver improvement. The smith system concentrates on driving with traffic and not against it.
Give it a shot and see if you are well prepared to tackle the oral exams. Jul 31, 2019 following the 5 rules of the smith system can dramatically reduce the risk of major accidents on both highways and roads. The five rules of the smith system were designed to keep drivers safe on the road and reduce the amount of accidents. Driver mentors instruct new drivers in the five keys of the smith system for safe driving. Oct 12, 2018 six conditions of driving new driver education video. These five keys are the pillars of our driver safety training. List of five principles of defensive driving it still runs. Driver training the positive approach to protect yourself from the inconsistent and unsafe actions of other motorists. Six conditions of driving new driver education video. Avoids swerving when passing other vehicles, turning or approaching parked. Staying alert of the dangers and traffic ahead not only avoids rearend collisions, but it also alerts other drivers behind your vehicle to slow down. Heres a few ways that these proven principles can apply to bus and transit drivers. And its important to keep your eyes moving because if you dont you may get into a kinda zone where you stop paying attention to almost everything but what you are staring at.
The smith5keys are designed to provide drivers with the knowledge and. Quiz to test your knowledge of the 5 smith keys for defensive. This leads to a significant return on investment in terms of crash reduction, injury reduction, maintenance savings, fuel savings, higher employee satisfaction and, most importantly, saved lives. Also you need to look into your mirrors a lot to check for a potential danger. Aim high the first rule for this method is aim high in steering. The first principle of the smith system is to aim high while steering. Aim high in steering means to look far down the road, not a few feet in front of your car.
The smith5keys smith system driver improvement institute, inc. Just like handling an incident, driving should follow a process that assesses your situation and generates action to mitigate hazards. Driver mentors also make sure new drivers understand that they represent a company and a profession. Aim high in steering keeps vehicle centered in the lane. Founded in 1952, smith system is the nations first fleet driver safety training organization. The session was facilitated by smith system instructor. When possible, look ahead to where your vehicle will be 15 seconds or so into the future. Nov 28, 2012 make the roads a safe place by employing the same methods we use with our drivers.
Western canada safety leaders participate in smith system. Smith system driver improvement institute incorporated arlington, texas, 760067441 usa 800. The name and principles of the smith system is ed by the smith system driver improvement institute, inc. Smith system of defensive driving techniques brake and check your mirror but why you ask. Other motorists, pedestrians, vehicle doors opening 3. Changing driving habits since 1952 smith system driver improvement institute, inc. Aim vision at least 12 15 seconds ahead of the vehicle.
Aim high in steering, get the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out, make sure others can see you, space cushion driving this method is stressed throughout the entire class and during driving lessons. Know the intervals for speed and gap distances for turning and crossing traffic. What they mean, is, dont make your steering adjustments based on what is directly in front of you. The driver should steer and focus their attention high, so as to view the road as whole and not just a few feet ahead. The five rules of the smith system when driving are aim high, the big picture, keep your eyes moving, leave yourself an out and make sure they see you. The smith system of driving is about reducing collisions, preventing injuries and saving lives. Check out his take below and share your own safe driving tips with us and fellow drivers on our facebook page.
If the road is winding to the right, for example, look as far into the turn as possible. Unauthorized use or reproduction in any manner is strictly prohibited. Look ahead to where you will be at least 15 seconds into your future. For this reason, we must learn to look at things selectively. Depending on surroundings and circumstances, as a general rule, at 30 miles per hour, a driver can usually see at least a block and a half ahead of their vehicle. Many times, youll hear this driving tip referred to as aiming high in steering. The smith system of noaccident driving 1956 duration. Know the reasons why an oncoming driver might cross the centerline. The importance of the system is that it teaches safe driving methods to. Depending on surroundings and circumstances, as a general rule, at 30 miles per hour, a driver can usually see at least a block and a. Keep your eyes moving eye movement helps keep you from getting into a driving trance, the.
The smith system is recognized as the industry leader in professional cdl driver training and handson vehicle safety education programs. The smith system the name and principles of the smith system is ed by the smith system driver improvement institute, inc. In the smith system, what are the five keys to safe driving. Quiz to test your knowledge of the 5 smith keys for. The first rule for this method is aim high in steering. Aim high in steering our eyes are designed to work for us at walking speeds. That astute assessment of whats important is right in line with raymonds personality and demeanor.
The five keys of safe driving steering your health. Stopped in traffic leave car length in front of vehicle, apply parking brake 2. It is a driving program developed by harold smith in 1952, to increase the safety of a companys commercial drivers and fleet. What rules are applied to lane selection when driving in urban traffic.
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