Minimize transportation risks.Identifying the risks associated with camp transportation is a challenging job, and managing the risks successfully requires skill. Automobile accidents Ask a Lawyer Question Country: United States of America State: Utah Say you're at a red light in a left hand turning lane and the light turns green so you let up slightly on the break antedating moving forward and the vehicle at camp are often the result of the driver driving too fast for the road conditions, failing to yield the right of way, or backing into a stationary Stationary can mean:
Driving Too Fast for Conditions Rural roads are often narrow and in poor repair, making them treacherous. The shoulders are often soft, and the surface may be freshly oiled and chipped or newly paved pave tr.v. paved, pav·ing, paves 1. To cover with a pavement. 2. To cover uniformly, as if with pavement. 3. To be or compose the pavement of. . These roads are certainly no place to drive aggressively, even in your own car, and driving fast in a van filled with campers and gear is completely inappropriate. Yet every summer accidents happen all across the country because vehicles are driven too fast for the road conditions. Youthful drivers may not realize the hazards of poor road conditions combined with speeding. More often an older driver will be aware of these circumstances CIRCUMSTANCES, evidence. The particulars which accompany a fact. 2. The facts proved are either possible or impossible, ordinary and probable, or extraordinary and improbable, recent or ancient; they may have happened near us, or afar off; they are public or . For this reason, drivers should be at least twenty-one years old. Consider what you do to impress upon your drivers that speeding is dangerous. * Do you warn your drivers of hazardous road conditions? Do your drivers know that oil may come to the surface of a freshly paved road after it rains? Do they know what to do under these circumstances? * Will the driver be able to recognize changing road conditions and adjust his speed appropriately? Failing to Yield the Right of Way One of the most frequent accidents at camp is failing to yield the right of way to another vehicle. This accident usually occurs when a van is turning left against oncoming on·com·ing adj. Coming nearer; approaching: an oncoming storm. n. An approach; an advance. traffic at an intersection intersection /in·ter·sec·tion/ (-sek´shun) a site at which one structure crosses another. intersection a site at which one structure crosses another. or traffic light. It also commonly occurs in parking lots. Failure to yield in merging traffic is another common camp vehicle accident. These accidents don't usually involve serious injuries but, depending on the circumstances, they can. To prevent these accidents ask yourself the following questions: * What training can I provide to drivers that will increase their awareness of these other vehicles? * Do camp drivers realize how long it takes to stop a vehicle traveling at 45 miles per hour? * Do they have a sense of the acceleration ability of a vehicle fully loaded with campers and equipment? * Do you check their defensive driving abilities before putting them behind the wheel? Backing into a Stationary Object Backing into a stationary object was the most common camp vehicle accident reported to Markel Insurance in 1997. These accidents often occur because vans are bigger and wider than the vehicles counselors usually drive. Because they are not accustomed to the length of the van, drivers frequently back into light poles, concrete pillars, guardrails, and other vehicles. This damage can be frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: and expensive. To prevent accidents, some camp directors send a second counselor with each van to guide the driver when he backs up the vehicle. This spotting technique is very effective. Another suggestion is to park the vehicle where it can be pulled out front first. Failing to Use a Seat Belt Sometimes people forget to use their seat belts. Sometimes passengers in the rear of the vehicle take off their seat belts because they are confining con·fine v. con·fined, con·fin·ing, con·fines v.tr. 1. To keep within bounds; restrict: Please confine your remarks to the issues at hand. See Synonyms at limit. . Wearing them all the time on the trip makes talking with friends more difficult. Failing to use seat belts is a prescription for disaster. When vans roll over in accidents, the people injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. are generally the ones who are not wearing seat belts. In accidents when everyone wears a seat belt, injuries are relatively minor. Consider what steps you take to impress upon drivers and campers that seat belts save lives and must be worn at all times when a vehicle is in operation. Are your drivers doing everything they can to enforce this rule? Seat belts have been around so long that people may take them for granted. Don't assume campers understand the importance of using them. Driver Fatigue or Error Driver fatigue and driver error contribute to many accidents. Sometimes, especially as the summer passes, counselors become fatigued. Add a long day in the sun to a long drive home and an accident may result. What steps do you take to prevent driver fatigue? * Do you factor in enough time for drivers to relax when they are on trips? Do you send two drivers when fatigue is likely? * Do you check the driving records of all prospective drivers? How can you determine drivers will exercise good judgement when they are behind the wheel? * If an international counselor is from a country that drives on the left side of the road, what is the risk he will revert re·vert v. 1. To return to a former condition, practice, subject, or belief. 2. To undergo genetic reversion. back to old habits when he becomes fatigued? Is it advisable ad·vis·a·ble adj. Worthy of being recommended or suggested; prudent. ad·vis  a·bil to send a second
American counselor with a foreign counselor as a safeguard against this
situation?
* What instructions do you give your drivers if they feel fatigued? Multiple injuries from a serious automobile accident at camp present a potential for a serious catastrophe Catastrophe, from the Greek Καταστροφή (katastrephein), literally means "to turn" (strephein) "downwards" (kata-). . The streets and highways on which camp vehicles travel represent an environment with fewer controls than your environment at camp. Because you are able to exercise less control, these activities require the highest degree of concern for safety and attention. The best approach is a comprehensive program that emphasizes profiling the skills and characteristics for your drivers, interviewing and selecting the best possible candidates, testing their abilities in simulated driving conditions, familiarizing fa·mil·iar·ize tr.v. fa·mil·iar·ized, fa·mil·iar·iz·ing, fa·mil·iar·iz·es 1. To make known, recognized, or familiar. 2. To make acquainted with. your drivers with local and state laws, and teaching them how your camp transportation program is operated. Success also includes leasing or purchasing vehicles that are the proper size for your purposes and establishing a preventative maintenance program that is well documented. Ed Schirick is an independent insurance and risk management consultant. He is a chartered property casualty underwriter Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) is considered to be the premier professional designation in property-casualty insurance and risk management. The rigorous curriculum includes eight (8) post-secondary undergraduate, or graduate-level courses covering topics such as and a certified insurance counselor In the United States, Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) is an insurance agent professional certification designation. The CIC certification program was started by the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research in Austin, Texas in 1969. . Send your risk management inquiries to: Ed Schirick, c/o Schirick Insurance and Risk Management Consulting Noun 1. management consulting - a service industry that provides advice to those in charge of running a business service industry - an industry that provides services rather than tangible objects , 3016 Northlake Drive, Richmond, VA 23233, or call 804-364-3600. |
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