Utah Government Trust trainer urges ‘get out and look’ to prevent backing crashes

Mike Stagg, safety presenter for the Utah Government Trust, urged employees to adopt simple, repeatable habits to prevent backing crashes, saying the incidents are "100% preventable" and that the trust’s backing accidents account for nearly half of its vehicle claims.

Stagg opened the session by citing national estimates and the trust’s internal experience: about 282 people are killed annually in backing accidents and roughly 17,000 are injured each year, and "almost 50% of our total vehicle claims are because of backing accidents," he said. He argued that low-frequency, low-speed backing maneuvers produce a disproportionately high share of crashes on a per-mile basis and can cause serious injury or death.

Why it matters: Backing accidents are common, often avoidable, and affect both property and people. Stagg framed the risk as both costly and potentially fatal, repeatedly using the simple safety goal acronym GOAL — "get out and look" — to describe the core precaution he recommended.

Practical steps recommended

- Choose a parking strategy to avoid backing when possible. Stagg advised selecting a pull-through space when available so drivers can depart by pulling forward. If a pull-through is not available, he said employees should back into a space on arrival so they can leave forward rather than backing into an uncontrolled environment.

- Use a spotter when another person is present. Stagg recommended that a passenger get out to guide backing maneuvers, maintain eye contact where possible, agree on hand signals ("turn right, turn left, stop"), roll down the window, and reduce music volume so the driver can hear instructions.

- Use a cone when unwilling or unable to back in. Placing a cone behind the passenger rear of the vehicle forces a walk-around check and creates a "circle of safety," Stagg said, because the driver must exit the vehicle and inspect behind it before moving.

- Prepare the vehicle and reduce distractions. He advised clearing snow and ice from all windows, adjusting mirrors, turning off phones and conversations while backing, and avoiding overreliance on backup cameras, which he described as a useful tool but not a substitute for looking over one’s shoulder.

- Adopt slow, small inputs and repeat attempts when needed. Stagg recommended moving slowly and making minor steering adjustments; if a maneuver does not feel right, drivers should pull straight and try again rather than forcing the movement.

Discussion and emphasis from the meeting host

A meeting host (identified in the session as the presenter’s introducer/moderator) reinforced the point that backing accidents can be both embarrassing and tragic, noting the audience response in chat and thanking Stagg for the presentation. The host emphasized the potential for severe injury and the importance of sharing the guidance with coworkers and families.

Context and limitations

The presentation drew on the trust’s claims data and national estimates presented by Stagg; no statutory requirements, ordinances, or formal policy changes were proposed or voted on during the session. Stagg repeatedly framed the recommendations as operational best practices for drivers and organizational fleets rather than as legally mandated rules. No implementation timetable, new procurement, or formal training requirement was specified during the talk.

Ending

Stagg closed by restating the three core actions he said would substantially reduce backing incidents: back in upon arrival, use a spotter when available, or place a cone and perform the walk-around check. "Get out and look," he said, concluding the session with the reminder: "No dead kids. Get out and look."