Driving & Transportation

Times have changed. Society no longer accepts drunk driving. Most drivers now use their seat belts. Motorists’ attitudes toward speeding, on the other hand, remain largely the same. Many experts note an increase in average highway speeds, on both interstate and rural roads - and they cite this trend as the prime reason why the number of deaths on those highways is nearing an all-time high. The vast majority of speeders realize the potential consequences of their actions. Yet many motorists continue to put themselves and others at risk when they refuse to adopt a common sense approach to driving. In this course, we will examine the hazards of speeding. We’ll also explore reasons why speeding just doesn’t make good sense, even when you’re rushing to meet a deadline.

(H5) Chances are you’ve been instructed on the dangers of speeding at some point; and as the operator of a light commercial vehicle, you carry the responsibility of protecting not only your company’s assets, but also the lives of others as well as your own. In this course, we will examine the hazards of speeding. We’ll also explore reasons why speeding just doesn’t make good sense, even when you’re rushing to meet a deadline.

Let’s start by looking at the costs of vehicle accidents and careless driving. Did you know that in 1999 more than 5,000 people died in large truck crashes? 14% of these deaths were truck occupants, 74% were people in cars and other passenger vehicles and 10% were either pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. In addition to the serious human costs of vehicle accidents, there are other costs to be considered. Careless driving causes physical damage to and escalates wear and tear on vehicles, leading to increased maintenance costs. Careless driving also means that the rules of the road are not being respected. Careless drivers receive more traffic tickets, which in turn cost them and their companies more money. We should also remember the personal costs of careless driving: unsafe driving can lead not only to the loss of your license but to the loss of your job, which would mean a significant loss of income for you and your family.

Professional drivers need to be able to react swiftly to events that may happen farther along the roadway. Tailgating limits the reaction time of professional drivers, significantly increasing the chance of an accident. This course explains the consequences of tailgating and lists strategies to overcome the impulse to tailgate.

(H5) Professional drivers need to be able to react swiftly to events which may happen farther along the roadway. Tailgating limits the reaction time of professional drivers, significantly increasing the chance of an accident. This course explains the consequences of tailgating and lists strategies to overcome the impulse to tailgate.

Hazardous materials are such a common part of our daily lives despite the fact that they can be poisonous, toxic, flammable, explosive or corrosive by nature. We also transport more than four billion tons of it by highway, air, rail and vessel all across the US each year. The problem comes when there’s a release of HAZMAT.