In May, members of the South Carolina Municipal Insurance Trust and South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund gathered to focus on defensive-driving training for public safety officials. Don McRae and Harry Roper, instructors with 911 Driving School, a company that offers driver education courses, covered topics ranging from seatbelt use to the effects of drivers’ psychological states.
Employees’ driving behaviors impact their careers, the safety of their coworkers and residents, and the city’s reputation and bottom line. In 2015, SCMIRF incurred approximately $3.6 million in auto liability claims, while, SCMIT had about $970,000 in workers’ compensation claims related to motor vehicle accidents. These totals continue to grow with ongoing medical, legal and other claim-related costs.
McRae warned public safety employees about "siren adrenaline," which can lead to tunnel vision, short-term memory loss and impaired decision-making. Younger, less experienced officers are particularly at risk.
He recommended taking a deep breath before activating the siren and then to breathe in cycles. He shared a breathing technique known as "combat breathing" in police training.
Breathe deeply through the nose for four seconds, hold the breath for four seconds, exhale completely through the mouth for four seconds, then hold the breath for four seconds. Finally, repeat each step. This can lower blood pressure and stress levels, minimizing the effects of adrenaline.
While pursuits make the news, a more common cause of collisions is the driver’s inattention during low speed maneuvering such as in parking lots. McRae instructed attendees to turn to look while backing, instead of relying solely on mirrors. Many cities have policies on using spotters while backing, and some require two spotters for larger vehicles. This extra step can save time and money by preventing injuries or property damage.
Another common source of preventable injuries for public safety employees is entering and exiting vehicles. To avoid injury, Roper said employees should maintain three points of contact with the ground or vehicle at all times—two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand—while entering and exiting vehicles. McRae emphasized that it is never safe to enter or exit a moving vehicle.
He also warned that consuming alcohol the night before coming to work can increase the risk of a collision and violate a city’s drug-free workplace policy and state law.
For example, if an employee is intoxicated at 2 a.m. and reports to work at 7:30 a.m., the individual’s blood alcohol concentration could still be .08, which is legally intoxicated. Even at 9:30 a.m. the level could be .05, which is still considered "impaired." McRae also shared a website called www.roadwiserx.com created by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, which explains the impacts of various prescription and over-the-counter medicines on a person’s driving ability.
It takes a variety of proactive measures to keep public safety officials safe while driving, from calming breathing techniques to wearing seatbelts to the careful use of medications.