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County training stresses backing safety, distracted driving after statewide crash data
Summary
A defensive-driving training for Tooele County employees reviewed Utah crash statistics and emphasized backing safety, use-and-limits of backup cameras, avoiding phone use, and steps to reduce drowsy-driving risk.
A trainer led a defensive-driving session for Tooele County employees that reviewed recent Utah crash data and focused on backing maneuvers, distraction and fatigue as leading causes of crashes.
The presenter opened with statewide statistics, saying that “January 1 to June 3 of 2023” recorded 103 fatalities, 90 fatal crashes and just over 27,000 total crashes, and that the current year to date showed “91 fatalities, 85 fatal crashes, just under 26,000” reported crashes. The trainer used those figures to urge attendees to reduce complacency during clear, daytime driving, which the presenter said accounts for a majority of fatal crashes on Utah roads.
Why it matters: the session combined local insurance-claims experience with statewide crash numbers. The presenter noted that backing incidents are the No. 1 at-fault accident type reported to the trust that insures many local government entities and recommended simple, low-cost practices to reduce those risks.
Key takeaways and recommendations
- Backing as a high-risk maneuver: The presenter told the room that backing is the highest-risk driving maneuver for the county’s auto claims and urged drivers to "get out and look," conduct a full walkaround, and establish a “circle of safety” before reversing. He recommended carrying a small cone and placing it at the passenger-rear corner to force a walkaround.
- Parking choices: The trainer recommended choosing pull-through spots when possible and backing into a space on arrival so drivers can pull forward when leaving, reducing the need to back into an uncontrolled driving environment.
- Spotters and equipment: Attendees were advised to use a spotter when backing large vehicles, and to understand each vehicle’s blind spots. The presenter advocated for backup cameras and alarms on new vehicles but repeatedly cautioned that cameras can fail and should not replace mirror checks and turning to look behind.
- Distraction and phone use: Citing studies, the presenter said talking on a phone increases crash risk fourfold and texting increases it sixfold, equating texting while driving to a blood-alcohol concentration of about 0.16 versus Utah’s legal limit of 0.05. He recommended putting phones away in a glove box or console while reversing or driving.
- Drowsy driving: The trainer urged employees who feel drowsy to pull over, swap drivers if possible, take a 10–15 minute nap, stretch or seek a hotel rather than continue driving. He used dash-cam clips shown during the session to illustrate how quickly sleepiness or a medical episode can turn into a serious crash.
- Speed and visibility: The session covered “overdriving your headlights” and defensive-speed judgment, noting that posted speed limits are not always safe for current conditions and that drivers should slow for darkness, poor weather or reduced visibility.
Illustrative examples
The presenter showed dash-cam videos of nighttime crashes, lane-change collisions, and vehicles driven across lanes to reach exits. He pointed out driver behaviors that contributed to the incidents—late signals, sudden lane crosses, failing to leave an escape path—and urged anticipating others and making one-lane changes per signal.
Quotes from the session
- Trainer (presenter): "Get out and look." - Trainer (presenter): "Backing is the highest risk maneuver that you're going to do when you drive." - Trainer (presenter): "Put your phone away. Take the extra time, take the 5 seconds to tell the person on the other line, hang on, let me back out of this spot, then I'll get back with you."
Session context and next steps
The training ran about an hour and included video examples, practical demonstrations and a short Q&A. The presenter invited questions after the prepared material and encouraged employees to adopt the recommended practices immediately for county and personal vehicles.
Ending
The presenter closed by reiterating that defensive driving is a conscious choice and that small habits—walking around a vehicle, using a spotter, clearing windows and stowing phones—can prevent common and costly backing incidents.
