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Loss Lessons
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INTERSECTIONS AND CELL PHONES
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PestSure Members,
A rear-end collision where our technician runs into the back
of another vehicle is the most common cause of auto accident
in the PestSure fleet. While many of these are caused by simply
following too close and not having the time to react to the
events that take place on the road in front of you, some result
from other driving behaviors.
The technician left the location where he had just completed
treatment after being slightly delayed by the homeowner who
had a few questions. He approached a traffic light and was
second in line to make a right turn at the light. As he watched
for traffic to clear so that he and the car in front could
complete their turns, he called his next appointment to let
them know he was en-route and would be about 15 minutes late.
The light was still red but the cross traffic was now nonexistent.
He accelerated to make the turn while the customer he was
trying to call answered the phone. He cleared the intersection
visually but failed to notice that the vehicle directly in
front of him had not initiated the turn as expected.
This technician driver anticipated the behavior of the driver
in front of him. He hit the car in the rear pushing it into
the intersection and into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
All three vehicles had damage but no injuries resulted. Our
technician was distracted by the phone call and was assuming
the driver in front of him was navigating the intersection
properly.
Lesson:
- Intersections are areas that require our full
attention and good communication in traffic
- Never assume the actions of another driver and
never make your safety contingent upon their driving behaviors
- Always visually clear your immediate path of travel
before moving your vehicle in any direction
- Don't allow a phone call to remove your attention
from the task of driving but rather complete calls prior
to embarking
- Allow at least a car length or more of space between
your vehicle and others at the intersection so you have
time to react
- If first in line at an intersection, stop back
far enough so that should you be rear ended, you are not
pushed into the cross traffic
Our technicians have many distractions to deal with as they
complete their duties in the field. Please share this lesson
with your team and work together to develop a method for handling
in-cab distractions such as phones, two-ways, paperwork, and
maps. Vehicle damage was all that resulted in this particular
situation. At an intersection where cars are moving through
at higher speeds, the outcome could have been much worse.
Study your rules for intersections frequently.
Linda Midyett
Area Manager
Safety and Loss Prevention, PestSure
Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc.
14241 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75254
972.663.6199
800.326.6203 |
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