Defensive Driving - UCI Environmental Health & Safety - University ...

UC Irvine Environmental Health & SafetySECTION: TITLE: Defensive Driving ProgramINITIATOR:David MoriREVISION DATE 3/26/071. Program Description2. Scope3. Definitions4. Responsibilities5. Program Components6. Reporting Requirements7. Training Requirements and Competency Assessment8. Information and External References9. AppendicesA. University Authorized Driver Agreement1. Program Description2. ScopeEnvironmental Health and Safety is committed to providing a comprehensivesafe driving program for UC Irvine employees. The goals of the program are toincrease awareness of guidelines for the safe use of University vehicles, and toprovide a defensive driving training program that includes online and classroomtraining options.Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of work-related fatalities andrepresent a higher average of Workers’ Compensation claims than any othercause of injury in the United States. Substantial loss may occur due to medicalcosts, property damage, and lost productivity.The Defensive Driving Program has been developed for UC Irvine employees toensure that drivers of University vehicles are adequately prepared for theirdriving responsibilities.3. DefinitionsAuthorized Driver - A UC Irvine faculty, staff member, student employee, orauthorized contract employee that has been approved by their department tooperate a University-owned vehicle as a routine or essential job function.Defensive Driving Training - The National Safety Council's (NSC) DefensiveDriving Course Online Program (DDC Online) or the classroom based NationalSafety Council Defensive Driving Course-4 (DDC-4) provided by EH&S.DMV Employer Pull Notice Program (EPN) - The California Department ofMotor Vehicles Program that allows the University to review records of Universitydrivers for violations.Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy – The University Policy designed to protectthe public by requiring employers to test Class B licensed employees for thepresence of alcohol and drugs while operating a University vehicle.Page 1 of 5

University Vehicle – Any motorized (electric, gas, diesel, etc.) vehicle owned,leased, or rented by the University that is operated on a roadway, either public orprivate.4. ResponsibilitiesAll Authorized Drivers must:• Possess a valid California driver’s license;• Complete a University Authorized Driver Agreement (Appendix A), to beretained in the department’s file;• Use University vehicles only for University business;• Observe all city and state traffic regulations;• Assume personal responsibility for traffic/parking citations received whenresponsible for a University vehicle or personal vehicle used for Universitybusiness;• Report to their supervisor in writing any citations, accidents, or incidentsinvolving University vehicles; and• Complete a University Accident Report form if involved in any accident orincident involving a University vehicle or their own vehicle on Universitybusiness.Department Managers and Supervisors shall:• Designate Authorized Drivers;• Verify that the driver has a valid California driver’s license; and• Determine which employees are required to complete the DDC Onlineprogram or the classroom based DDC-4 training based upon the UCI DriverSafety and Driving Records Procedure (see Section A. Legal Requirements).Environmental Health & Safety shall:• Manage the DDC Online program and issue completion certificates toparticipants; and• Provide DDC-4 training and issue completion certificates to participants.5. Program ComponentsThe Defensive Driving Program is intended to enhance driver safety andminimize accidents, injuries, and incurred liability resulting from motor vehicleaccidents.Defensive driving means driving in a manner that prevents accidents in spite ofthe actions of others or in the presence of adverse driving conditions. Three keyelements for successful defensive driving are:• Recognizing driving hazards.• Knowing what to do to avoid a hazard.• Acting correctly and in time to avoid collisions.Defensive Driving Training is coordinated by Environmental Health & Safety.The training programs have been developed by the National Safety Council andare designed to instruct participants in the techniques of safe driving andPage 2 of 5

accident prevention. All Authorized Drivers are required to complete trainingwithin the first 90 days of employment. Training can be completed in two ways:1) Online using the DDC Online program2) Attending DDC-4 training provided by EH&SThe training is intended to enhance driver safety and minimize accidents,injuries, and incurred liability resulting from motor vehicle accidents. Completionof online or classroom training is strongly recommended for all employees whoroutinely operate University vehicles as an essential job function. This includes,but is not limited to, drivers classified as being subject to the DMV EPN Programor the Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy. Department managers and supervisorswill determine who will be required to be enrolled in the DMV EPN Program andcomplete Defensive Driving Training.University employees who use their own vehicles and do not routinely useUniversity vehicles, and short-term visitors/guests who use University vehicles,are not required to complete Defensive Driving Training. However, departmentmanagers and supervisors may, at their discretion, have these employee’s orguests complete the training.6. Reporting RequirementsDepartments:• Must enroll employees in the DMV EPN Program to monitor driver recordsand status of employee’s driver’s license. (The campus EPN program ismanaged by UCI Police.)7. Training Requirements and Competency AssessmentEH&S recommends that Authorized Drivers complete Defensive Driving Trainingwithin the first 90 days of employment or prior to operating a University vehicle.Retraining must be completed every 4 years or whenever the employee has hadan accident or reportable incident involving a University vehicle.Retraining may also be required when a driver is observed driving in an unsafemanner or review of a driving record indicates an accumulation of points, addedrestrictions, change in status, and/or suspension of driving privileges.Access the DDC Online program or register for DDC-4 training through theTraining & Employee Development (TED) web site.EH&S maintains the Defensive Driving Training database and issues trainingcompletion certificates to employees.8. Information and External References• UC Business and Finance Bulletin BUS-46, Use of University Vehicles• California Department of Motor Vehicles, Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program(CVC 1808.1)• National Safety Council, Defensive Driving Course Online Program (DDC Online)Page 3 of 5

• UCI Administrative Policies and Procedures, Sec. 903-29: Drug and AlcoholTesting of Transportation Employees Policy• UCI Administrative Policies and Procedures, Sec. 905-20: Driver Safety andDriving Records: DMV Employer Pull Notice (EPN) Program ProceduresAPPENDICESPage 4 of 5

Appendix AUCI Confidential - Internal Use OnlyUNIVERSITY AUTHORIZED DRIVER AGREEMENTUniversity of California, IrvineThis form must be kept in the department and made available for review upon request by EH&S.1. This section must be completed by all drivers prior to operating University owned orsponsored vehicles.Department:Name of Driver:Employee ID #:Driver License VerifiedType of Vehicle(s)Authorized for Use: Has valid California driver license Visitor over 18 with valid driver license from home state or country2. This section must be completed by employees who operate university vehicles on aroutine basis where driving is an essential job function.Enrolled in DMV EPN Complete DMV “Authorization For Release Of Driver RecordProgramInformation” form and send to UCIPDDate of completion forDefensive Driving Training3. All drivers must complete and acknowledge the following:Defensive Driving means driving to prevent accidents in spite of the actions of others or thepresence of adverse driving conditions. Three key elements for successful defensive drivinginclude anticipating hazardous situations, being prepared for the unexpected, and respondingproactively to the actions of other drivers, pedestrians, and changing driving/road conditions.I, ____ _______ , have read and understand the UC Irvine DefensiveDriving Program and will adhere to all the requirements of this program. I have had anopportunity to ask questions regarding this program to EH&S and/or my department supervisor. I will use University vehicles only on University business. I will observe all city and state traffic regulations and assume personal responsibility for anytraffic/parking citations. I will report to my supervisor in writing any citations, accidents, or incidents involvingUniversity Vehicles and may be personally responsible for penalties incurred for moving andparking violations received when operating such vehicles. I will complete a University Accident Report Form when involved in any accidents orincidents involving University Vehicles. I will report to my supervisor in writing any change in my driver license status.Employee Signature: __________________________________ Date: ___________________I have verified that this employee/visitor possesses a valid driver license that has not expiredSupervisor Signature: _________________________________ Date: ___________________Page 5 of 5