Seatbelt Safety

Monthly Training Topic

Ryder Safety and Loss
Prevention

SEATBELT SAFETY
Information Objectives
Participants Will Know:
What is the Seatbelt law;
The management and administrative costs of not wearing your

safety belt; and

Seatbelt Myths.

The information in this program comes from the US Department of

Transportation, FMCSA Increasing Safety Belt use In Your Company,
March 2006.

01/14/16

Proprietary and Confidential

COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY BELT LAW

Safety Belt Use For CMV Drivers Is The Law
Title 49, Section 392.16 of the Code Of Federal Regulations States;
A commercial motor vehicle that has a seat belt assembly installed at
the driver seat shall not be driven unless the driver has properly
restrained himself / herself with the seat belt assembly.

The following is a US Department of Transportation Study

A recent study conducted by the US Department of Transportation
shows only 54% of commercial motor vehicle drivers wear safety belts
compared to 82% of passenger vehicle drivers.
In 2004, close to half of the 634 commercial motor vehicle driver killed
in crashes were not wearing safety belts. Of those killed, 168 of them
were ejected from their vehicles, and nearly 3 out of 4 were not
wearing safety belts.

Not wearing your safety belt is costly.

Motor vehicle crashes of all types are the leading cause of lost work
time and on-the-job fatalities in the U.S.
In 2004, 634 professional truck drivers were killed in crashes.
A total of 761 occupants of large trucks died in crashes.
Transportation incidents were the number one cause of on-the-job
deaths with 2,460 fatalities recorded out of a total of 5,703 fatal
occupational injuries recorded.
The average cost to a company per injury truck crash is $174,367 and
per fatal truck crash is $3,469,962.

The Direct Costs Of Not Wearing Your Safety Belt

Medical care and disability payments; physical and vocational
rehabilitation,
The loss of special knowledge or skills,
Recruiting and replacing personnel,
Reassigning and / or re-training employees,
Lost business due to absenteeism,
Legal Fees, and,
Increase in long-term rates for workers compensation, property
liability, commercial auto, and health insurance.

The Indirect Cost Of Employees Not Wearing Safety Belt

Operational delays and losses resulting from the absence of the
injured employees services;
Diminished company reputation;
Lost productivity resulting from using less experienced replacements,
time taken by other employees to fill in, or to train replacements;
Lowered employee morale;
Regulatory and enforcement actions; and
Inability to attract new employees and retain existing employees.

Why Wear Your Safety Belt?

FATAL ACCIDENT STATISTICS
In 2004, 634 drivers of large trucks died
Almost half of the 634 commercial drivers killed in crashes were not wearing safety
belts
Of the 168 drivers who died as a result of being ejected from their trucks, 3 out of 4 of
them were not wearing safety belts
5,190 fatalities occurred in large truck-related crashes
67% of truck drivers killed who were not wearing safety belt, were involved in single
vehicle crashes

NON FATAL ACCIDENT STATISTICS

About 27,000 large truck occupants suffered nonfatal injuries in crashes, and of
those,
4,000 were incapacitated
51% of truck-occupant-fatalities in large trucks involve rollovers. In a rollover, a truck
driver is 80% less likely to die when wearing a safety belt

29% of the truck drivers surveyed reported that they had been involved in a truck
crash at some point in their career
116,000 injuries occurred in large truck-related crashes
23,000 drivers of large trucks are estimated to have been injured in crashes
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Why Seatbelts Are Effective

Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious
improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occurs in
less than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.
In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when they were ejected from their
cabs during a crash.
In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person
continues to move forward at 30 mph causing his/her to hit the
frontal components of the cab interior at about 30 mph. This is the
same velocity a person falling from the top of a three story
building would experience upon impact with the ground.

SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 1
Safety belts are uncomfortable and restrict movement

FACT
The 2005 Transportation Research Board study on commercial drivers
safety belt use found many drivers do not find wearing safety belts to
be uncomfortable or restrictive of their movements. Once they
correctly adjust the seat, lap and shoulder belt, most drivers find that
discomfort and restrictive movement can be alleviated.

SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 2
Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision that doesn't affect anyone
else

FACT
Not wearing a safety belt can certainly affect your family and loved
ones. It can affect other motorists since wearing a safety belt can help
you avoid losing control of your vehicle in a crash. It's also the Law;
Federal and State regulations require commercial vehicle drivers to
buckle up. Safety belts are a drivers last line of defense in a crash.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 3
Safety belts prevent your escape from a burning or submerged
vehicle

FACT
Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious,
improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occur in less
than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 4
Its better to be thrown clear of the wreckage in the event of a crash

FACT
An occupant of a vehicle is four times as likely to be fatally injured
when thrown from the vehicle. In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when
they were ejected from their cabs during a crash.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 5
It takes too much time to fasten your safety belt 20 times a day

FACT
Buckling up takes about three seconds. Even buckling up 20 times a
day requires only one minute.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 6
A large truck will protect you. Safety belts are unnecessary

FACT
In 2004, 634 drivers of large trucks died in truck crashes and 303 of
those truck drivers were not wearing safety belts.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 7
Safety belts aren't necessary for low-speed driving

FACT
In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person
continues to move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit frontal
interior components (such as the steering wheel, instrument panel, or
windshield) at about 30 mph. This is the same velocity a person
falling from the top of a three-story building would experience upon
impact with the ground.

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SEATBELT MYTH
MYTH 8
A lap belt offers sufficient protection

FACT
The lap and shoulder belt design has been proven to hold a driver
securely behind the wheel in the event of a crash, greatly increasing
the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle and minimizing
the chance for serious injury or death.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST
1. In a crash, being thrown from a vehicle:
a) Increases the chance of death or serious injury;
b) Decreases the chance of death or serious injures; or
c) Has no effect on the chance of death or serious injury.

2. If a vehicle is in a crash and becomes submerged in water, a drivers chances of

escaping from the vehicle are:
a) Decreased by wearing a safety belt;
b) Increased by wearing a safety belt; or
c) Not affected by wearing a safety belt.

3. Safety belts prevent injury:

a) Most often on short trips;
b) Most often on long trips; or
c) On all trips.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST
4. Safety belts prevent injury:
a) Most often in bad weather;
b) Most often in good weather; or
c) In all weather conditions.

5. A drivers ability to control the vehicle in an emergency is:

a) Hampered by safety belt;
b) Unaffected by safety belts; or
c) Close to home.

6. Most Fatal crashes Happen :

a) Close to home;
b) On long trips;
c) On expressways; or
d) In all weather conditions.

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KNOWLEDGE TEST
7. Safety belts can Reduce the chances of crippling injury injury among
occupants of large trucks by about.
a) 29 percent
b) 50 percent
c) 80 percent

8. In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to

move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit frontal interior components
(such as the steering wheel or windshield ) at about 30 mph. The is the same
velocity as a person falling from the top of a _____________upon impact with
the ground.
a) Thirty story building
b) Three story building
c) One story building

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Knowledge Test Answers

1.a)
2.a)
3.c)
4.c)
5.b)
6.b)
7.b)
8.b)

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IT ONLY TAKES 3 SECONDS TO BUCKLE UP

Alternatively:

DEAD
IS
FOREVER!!!

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