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Fleet Safety Program  

Guide To Determine Preventability Of Vehicle Accidents

Determining preventability must be done in light of all the facts. These guidelines do not cover every accident which may occur and are intended only to help in determining whether the driver applied a high standard of defensive driving to prevent the accident.

These rulings are often used to classify the driver's award eligibility. Determining the award chargeability is a tool for critical self-analysis and can be used to reduce the chance of subsequent accidents. These guidelines are consistent with National Safety Council (NSC) and American Trucking Association (ATA) rulings on preventability.

Struck In Rear By Other Vehicle

Non-preventable if:

  1. Driver's vehicle was legally and properly parked – unless extenuating circumstances suggest “park elsewhere” to an alert driver.
  2. Driver was proceeding in his/her own lane of traffic at a safe, lawful speed.
  3. Driver was stopped in traffic due to existing conditions, compliance with traffic sign or signal, or the directions of an official legitimately controlling traffic.
  4. Driver was in proper lane to make turn and their turn signal was engaged.
  5. Driver's vehicle was disabled and protected by emergency warning devices as requested by DOT and state regulations, or if driver was in the process of setting out or retrieving signals.
    --Except, see “Mechanical Defects Accidents.”
    --Except, if opportunity was available to remove vehicle off road.

Preventable if:

  1. Driver was passing slower traffic near an intersection and had to make a sudden stop.
  2. Driver made a sudden stop to park, load or unload, stop at rail crossing, ask directions, or because he/she would otherwise pass his/her destination.
  3. Driver made any other type of unnecessary sudden stop.
  4. Driver's vehicle was improperly parked.
  5. While starting on a grade, driver's vehicle rolled backward into vehicle behind.

Mechanical Defects Accidents

Preventable if:

  1. Defect was of a type which driver should have detected during his/her vehicle pre-trip inspection or during normal operation.
  2. Defect was caused by driver's abusive handling.
  3. Defect was known to driver but he or she operated vehicle (exception: if driver was instructed to drive vehicle in said condition.)

Struck While Parked

Non-preventable if:

  1. Driver was properly parked in a permitted area.
    --Unless extenuating circumstances suggest “park elsewhere” to an alert driver.
    --Unless off-the-road parking was available.
  2. Vehicle was protected by emergency warning devices as required by DOT and state regulations*, or if the driver was in the process of setting or retrieving signals.

* Under DOT regulations, the use of 4-way flashers as emergency warning lights meets this provision for only the first 10 minutes.

Side-Swipe Or Head-On Collisions

Preventable if:

  1. Driver was not entirely in proper lane of travel.
  2. Driver did not pull to his/her right or left and slow down and/or stop for vehicle encroaching on his/her lane of travel, when such action could have been taken without additional danger.
  3. Driver changed lanes without making sure sufficient space was available or properly signaling intent.
  4. Driver was weaving ,crowding the passing vehicle.

Striking Other Vehicle In Rear

Non-preventable if:

  1. Other vehicle rolled backward while starting on grade.
  2. Driver's vehicle was stopped but was hit from behind and pushed forward.

Preventable if:

  1. Driver failed to maintain safe following distance and control.
  2. Driver failed to stay alert and make sure that traffic was slowing or that vehicle ahead was moving slowly, slowing down or stopped.
  3. Driver misjudged rate of overtaking.
  4. Driver came too close before pulling out to pass.
  5. Driver failed to leave sufficient room for passing vehicle to get safely back in line.
  6. Driver was passing and returned to right lane too soon.

Accidents At Intersection

Non-preventable if:

  1. Driver was stopped in compliance with traffic sign or signal, or at the direction of an official legitimately controlling traffic.

Preventable if:

  1. Driver did not control speed to stop within available sight distance.
  2. Driver did not check cross traffic and wait for it to clear before entering intersection.
  3. Driver pulled out in the face of oncoming traffic.
  4. Driver collided with person, vehicle or object while making a right or left turn.
  5. Driver collided with vehicle making turn in front of him/her.
  6. Driver had collision with vehicle coming from either side, regardless of location of traffic signs/signals or whether light was green.

Backing Accidents

Preventable if:

  1. Driver could have avoided backing by planning his/her route better.
  2. Driver backed into traffic stream when such backing could have been avoided.
  3. Driver failed to get out of cab and check proposed path.
  4. Driver depended solely on mirrors
  5. When backing a long distance, driver failed to periodically recheck conditions
  6. Driver failed to sound horn while backing.
  7. Parked at curb, driver failed to check behind vehicle before leaving.
  8. Driver backed from blind side when he or she could have made a sight-side approach.
  9. Driver failed to use a guide to help him/her back, or depended solely on a guide;

Accidents While Passing Or Being Passed

Preventable if:

  1. Driver passed even though view of road ahead was obstructed by hill, curve, vegetation, traffic, adverse weather conditions, etc.
  2. Driver attempted to pass despite closely approaching traffic.
  3. Driver failed to warn driver of vehicle being passed, failed to signal lane change or cut in short when returning to right lane.
  4. Driver pulled out in front of other traffic overtaking from rear.
  5. Driver failed to stay in his/her own lane.
  6. Driver failed to either hold or reduce speed to permit other vehicle to pass safely.

Accidents While Entering Traffic Stream

Preventable if:

  1. Driver failed to check traffic and/or signal when pulling away from curb.
  2. Driver failed to look back to check traffic when mirrors weren't sufficient.
  3. Driver attempted to pull out in a manner which forced other vehicle(s) to change speed or direction.
  4. Driver failed to make full stop before entering from side street, alley or driveway.
  5. Driver failed to make full stop before crossing sidewalk.
  6. Driver failed to yield right-of-way to approaching traffic.

Accidents Involving Pedestrians And Bicycles

Non-preventable if:

  1. Pedestrian or bicycle driver collided with driver's vehicle while it was legally parked or stopped.

Preventable if:

  1. Driver did not reduce speed in area of heavy pedestrian traffic.
  2. Driver was not prepared to stop.
  3. Driver failed to yield right-of-way to pedestrian.
  4. Driver failed to stop when passing a streetcar or bus on the right.

Accidents Involving Rail-Operated Vehicles

Preventable if:

  1. Driver attempted to cross tracks directly ahead of train or streetcar.
  2. Driver ran into side of train or streetcar.
  3. Driver stopped or parked either on tracks or too close to them.
  4. Driver failed to yield right-of-way to trolley.
  5. Driver failed to stop at the railroad crossing.

Miscellaneous Accident Type

Preventable if:

  1. Driver was making a “U” turn.
  2. Driver was entering traffic from a driveway or private alley.
  3. Driver was giving a push or was being pushed.
  4. Driver left vehicle unattended (with or without motor running) and failed to set parking brake and wheel chocks.
  5. Collision with fixed objects – poles, gates, light stanchions, etc.
  6. Non-collision accidents, such as an overturn or running off road.
  7. Skidding accidents in which the vehicle is damaged because it jackknifes.
  8. Vehicle was moved while connected to stationary equipment.

Important Summary Information

Additional assistance in classifying accidents may be found in the US DOT's Commercial Vehicle Preventable Accident Manual.

THE FOLLOWING IS APPLICABLE TO ALL ACCIDENTS

Preventable if:

  1. Driver was not operating at a speed consistent with the existing conditions of road, weather and traffic.
  2. Driver failed to control speed so that he or she could stop within assured clear distance.
  3. Driver misjudged available clearance.
  4. Driver failed to yield right-of-way to avoid accident.
  5. Driver was in violation of company operating rules or special instructions, the regulations of any federal or state regulatory agency, or any applicable traffic laws or ordinances.
  6. These rules apply, regardless of whether the accident occurred on or off the public highways.

DETERMINE PREVENTABILITY

An accident must be considered preventable on the part of the company driver unless it is shown, beyond question, that the driver did not contribute to the accident and did everything reasonable to avoid the accident. A driver could have been “within the law” and still have contributed to the accident; then it must be determined a preventable accident. Determining if an accident is preventable is not related to assigning fault, or judging liability; those steps are part of the legal and claims adjusting process.

ABOUT XL INSURANCE

The XL Insurance companies are global providers of risk management solutions for leading industrial and commercial businesses. As members of the XL Group, we offer a broad portfolio of high quality insurance products and related services including property, casualty, professional and specialty coverages. XL Group plc, through its operating subsidiaries, is one of the world's largest providers of insurance, reinsurance and financial products to business and industry worldwide. Additional information is available at www.xlgroup.com or www.xlinsurance.com.

Our Environmental division provides integrated environmental risk management® solutions to business and industry worldwide through insurance, risk control and claims management. Our risk control and risk management services provide cost-effective solutions to help our clients reduce or eliminate potential losses associated with environmental and casualty exposures.

For additional information concerning the Fleet Safety Program, please contact:

XL Insurance
520 Eagleview Boulevard
PO Box 636
Exton , PA 19341-0636

www.xlinsurance.com/environmental

Or call us at 800-327-1414
Fax: 610-458-8667

Insurance coverages underwritten in the US by Greenwich Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company, and XL Specialty Insurance Company, and in Canada by XL Insurance Company Limited. Certain coverages not available in all jurisdictions.

Information accurate as of 1/05..

 
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