Page 36 - 2021-2022 Commercial Drivers Manual

SECTION 2 : DRIVING SAFETY

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE to get it to the side of the road. This will help
prevent another accident and allow traffic
Subsections 2.17, 2.18 and 2.19 to move.
• If you’re stopping to help, park away from
• Stopping is not always the safest thing to • How do you know if your vehicle has the accident. The area immediately around
do in an emergency. True or False? antilock brakes? the accident will be needed for emergency
• What are some advantages of going right • What is the proper braking technique vehicles.
instead of left around an obstacle? when driving a vehicle with antilock • Put on your flashers.
brakes?
• What is an “escape ramp?” • Set out reflective triangles to warn other traf-
• How do antilock brakes help you? fic. Make sure other drivers can see them in
• If a tire blows out, you should put the
brakes on hard to stop quickly. True or time to avoid the accident.
False?
2.20.2 – Notify Authorities
These questions may be on the test. If you can’t answer them all, re-read subsections 2.17,
2.18, and 2.19 If you have a cell phone or CB, call for as-
sistance before you get out of your vehicle. If
not, wait until after the accident scene has been

properly protected, then phone or send someone

to phone the police. Try to determine where you
2.19.1 – Drive-wheel Skids 2.19.2 – Correcting a Drive- are so you can give the exact location.

wheel Braking Skid
By far the most common skid is one in which 2.20.3 – Care for the Injured
the rear wheels lose traction through excessive Do the following to correct a drive-wheel
braking or acceleration. Skids caused by accel- braking skid. If a qualified person is at the accident and
eration usually happen on ice or snow. Tak- helping the injured, stay out of the way unless
ing your foot off the accelerator can easily stop • Stop Braking. This will let the rear wheels roll asked to assist. Otherwise, do the best you can to
them. (If it is very slippery, push the clutch in. again, and keep the rear wheels from sliding. help any injured parties. Here are some simple
Otherwise, the engine can keep the wheels from • Countersteer. As a vehicle turns back on steps to follow in giving assistance:

rolling freely and regaining traction.) course, it has a tendency to keep on turning.
Rear wheel braking skids occur when the Unless you turn the steering wheel quickly • Don’t move a severely injured person unless
rear drive wheels lock. Because locked wheels the other way, you may find yourself skid- the danger of fire or passing traffic makes it
have less traction than rolling wheels, the rear ding in the opposite direction. necessary.
wheels usually slide sideways in an attempt to • Stop heavy bleeding by applying direct pres-
“catch up” with the front wheels. In a bus or Learning to stay off the brake, turn the steer- sure to the wound.
straight truck, the vehicle will slide sideways ing wheel quickly, push in the clutch, and coun-

in a “spin out.” With vehicles towing trailers, tersteer in a skid takes a lot of practice. The best • Keep the injured person warm.
a drive-wheel skid can let the trailer push the place to get this practice is on a large driving
towing vehicle sideways, causing a sudden jack- range or “skid pad.” 2.21 – Fires
knife. See Figure 2.19. 2.19.3 – Front-wheel Skids
Truck fires can cause damage and injury.
Driving too fast for conditions causes most Learn the causes of fires and how to prevent
front-wheel skids. Other causes include lack of them. Know what to do to extinguish fires.
tread on the front tires and cargo loaded so not
enough weight is on the front axle. In a front- 2.21.1 – Causes of Fire
wheel skid, the front end tends to go in a straight
line regardless of how much you turn the steer- The following are some causes of vehicle
TRACTOR JACKNIFE ing wheel. On a very slippery surface, you may fires:
not be able to steer around a curve or turn. • After Accidents. Spilled fuel, improper use
When a front-wheel skid occurs, the only way of flares.
to stop the skid is to let the vehicle slow down.
Stop turning and/or braking so hard. Slow • Tires. Under-inflated tires and duals that
down as quickly as possible without skidding touch.
• Electrical System. Short circuits due to
2.20 – Accident Procedures damaged insulation, loose connections.
• Fuel. Driver smoking, improper fueling,
When you’re in an accident and not seriously loose fuel connections.
hurt, you need to act to prevent further dam- • Cargo. Flammable cargo, improperly sealed
age or injury. The basic steps to be taken at any or loaded cargo, poor ventilation.
accident are to:
• Protect the area. 2.21.2 – Fire Prevention
• Notify authorities. Pay attention to the following:
• Care for the injured. • Pre-trip Inspection. Make a complete in-
spection of the electrical, fuel, and exhaust
2.20.1 – Protect the Area systems, tires, and cargo. Be sure to check
that the fire extinguisher is charged.

The first thing to do at an accident scene is to

keep another accident from happening in the • En Route Inspection. Check the tires,

same spot. To protect the accident area: wheels, and truck body for signs of heat
whenever you stop during a trip.
• If your vehicle is involved in the accident, try
Figure 2.19
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