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Defensive Driving - Large Vehicles

This 43-minute Defensive Driving course is designed to address the unique challenges of operating large vehicles such as trucks, buses, or commercial vans. Driving large vehicles requires drivers to be highly vigilant and skilled due to longer stopping distances, larger blind spots, and increased vehicle weight. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of large vehicles involved in fatal crashes each year is significant. This course focuses on educating drivers about best defensive driving techniques, accident prevention protocols, maintaining control, and responding to hazardous conditions unique to larger vehicles. The specialized training for large vehicles and final assessment as part of this course ensures drivers are confident and skilled to avoid accidents and reduce the risk of fatalities. This course is ideal for workers operating large commercial vehicles to understand and maintain safety on the road.

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Learning Objectives

Learning the core principles of defensive driving techniques for unique handling and operational characteristics of large vehicles to avoid accidents and other safety hazards on the road.
How to identify potential risks on the road, including blind spots, sudden stops, sharp turns, and aggressive drivers. Understanding the common hazards leads to effective and timely mitigation of the hazard and reduces safety risks.
Understanding the importance of practicing safe following distances from other vehicles to prevent collisions in case of sudden stops or any sudden hazard.

Learning the skills to handle hazardous emergency situations such as tire blowouts, brake failures, or weather-related hazards in a calm and thoughtful manner, ensuring safety while driving large vehicles.
Highlighting the importance of adhering to traffic laws and regulations to minimize legal liability and maintain safe driving practices, especially those specific to large vehicle operations.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
1. Welcome
2. Introduction
3. Learning Objectives
2. Defensive Driver Characteristics
1. What Is a Defensive Driver?
2. Brainteaser - Intro
3. Brainteaser
4. Brainteaser
5. Brainteaser
6. Collision Statistics
3. Causes of Traffic Accidents
1. Accident Cause Triangle
4. Maintaining Control
1. Safety Is in Our Own Control
2. Controlling Ourselves
3. How Can You Protect Yourself?
4. Alcohol and Drugs
5. General Condition
6. Wear Your Seatbelt!
7. Pre-Trip Inspections
8. Pre-Trip Inspections
9. Learning Activity
5. Speeding
1. Speeding
2. Avoiding Speeding
6. Right-of-Way Violations
1. Right-of-Way Violations
2. Railroad Crossings
7. Turning
1. Turns
2. Turning Risks
3. Left Turns
4. Right Turns
8. Driving Left of Center and Passing
1. Driving Left of Center – Head-On Collisions
2. Passing Improperly

9. Following Too Closely
1. Following Too Closely
2. Following Too Closely
3. Use the 4-Second Rule
4. Cushion of Safety
5. Cushion of Safety
10. Backing Procedures
1. Backing Procedures
2. Techniques to Use
3. Backing Practices
4. Backing Practices
11. Distracted and Drowsy Driving
1. Distracted and Drowsy Driving
12. Collision Prevention Formula
1. Collision Prevention Formula
2. Step 1: Recognizing the Hazards
3. Step 2: Understanding the Defense
4. Step 3: Acting Correctly in Time
13. Spotting Hazards
1. Reading Traffic Patterns
2. Learning Activity: Hazard Recognition
14. Incident Procedures & Information
1. Incident Procedures
2. Traffic Safety Website Links
15. Conclusion
1. Conclusion

Training Process

This Defensive Driving - Large Vehicles course is fully online and self-paced, featuring engaging videos, real-life case studies, and scenario-based learning to train drivers with defensive driving skills that are critical for large vehicle operation safety. The learning is reinforced with quizzes and a final assessment to ensure readiness for real-world application. Participants are awarded a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

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