The accidents that occur when a vehicle is backing up are among the most easily preventable. They will often occur when a vehicle is backing at a slow speed in a parking lot, alley or other confined space, and when a driver is inattentive, it can become easy to strike an unseen object.
Backing accidents are also on the rise, and can be costly. Since 2019, the SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund has handled more than 250 backing accidents, which cost approximately $895,000.
Careful driving can cut down on the risk of backing accidents for public works vehicles, fire engines, police cruisers and others. Here are some steps that workers can take to prevent these accidents:
- Park defensively. Preventing a backing accident on the next trip starts before the vehicle is ever parked from the last trip. Drivers can reduce risks by pulling through a parking space or backing into it, which provides a better line of sight when leaving. Most backing accidents occur when backing out of parking spaces, especially for emergency vehicles.
- Perform a walk-around before starting the vehicle. This gives a clear view of the limitations and potential hazards in the backing area. Drivers can check for children, pedestrians, soft or muddy areas, potholes, low-hanging trees or wires and any hazards that could puncture tires or other dangers.
- Use a spotter. When driving with more than one person in the vehicle, a person who is not driving should always serve as a spotter. To prevent miscommunication, the driver and spotter should use hand signals instead of verbal ones. Spotters should be trained on how to communicate the hazards to the operator. If the spotter and operator lose sight of each other, the backing operation should stop immediately and until a line of sight can be reestablished.
- Install a rear-vision camera and backing sensor in vehicles. This reduces rear blind spots. Investing in a rear-vision camera and backing sensor system for vehicles can put drivers in full visual control of the rear of a vehicle. The use of backup cameras should not replace drivers looking to the right, left and behind as they back up, but can be used as an additional safeguard.
- Create and support a municipal training program. Such a program can include a drivers’ course to teach and review backing techniques, and should cover topics like equipment usage, hand signals and dangers to avoid.
No amount of experience driving a vehicle forward can help a driver with backing a truck or other vehicles. All drivers need to practice in safe surroundings until they become familiar with the way the vehicle backs up compared to the direction the steering wheel is turned.
Collision avoidance systems are another tool that can help in preventing backing accidents. The wireless parking backup sensor system with sound will start to beep when there is something 8 feet away and continue getting faster as the vehicle gets closer, alerting the driver. This technology greatly reduces the potential of a backing accident. For SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund members, these systems can be considered for 50% reimbursement up to the stated limit through the SCMIT and SCMIRF grants. Grant funds are available on a first-come, first served basis until depleted.
For questions, contact the Municipal Association’s Risk Management Services loss control staff at losscontrol@masc.sc.