Motor Vehicle Safety

Vehicle accidents can be costly from the standpoint of time lost, vehicle repair, and insurance premium cost increases, not to mention human injury. The following rules and procedures will help ensure the orderly and safe operation of motor vehicles on campus:

• Do not talk on cell phones while driving. Cell phone use was estimated to be involved in 26 percent of all motor vehicle crashes in 2014. An estimated 5 percent of crashes involve texting, while 21 percent involve drivers talking on hand-held or hands-free cell phones. Park the car at a safe location, and then use the cell phone.
• All the rules in the North Carolina Driver's Manual shall be obeyed.
• All vehicles should be maintained per manufacturers' specifications. If any operational problems with the vehicle, notify your supervisor and ensure that these problems are corrected.
• If an accident occurs in a college vehicle, follow the directions on the information packet in the glove box and notify your supervisor immediately.
• Motor vehicle traffic mixing with bicycle and pedestrian traffic is a major concern on campus. Even though bicyclists are required to follow the rules of the road, (the same as motor vehicles) many bicycle operators fail to obey stop signs or signal when making turns. Likewise, pedestrians are apt to step off a curb and cross the street at any location. Therefore, motor vehicle operators should be very vigilant.
• Drivers of motor vehicles should never park or travel in a bicycle path or on a sidewalk and should always look for a bicyclist that may be passing on the right.
• Motor vehicle drivers should always stop for pedestrians on a campus street, particularly those pedestrians in a crosswalk. Pedestrians have the right-of-way, even in unmarked areas.
  
  Following too closely is unsafe at any speed, on any road, in any vehicle.
• Never ride on a piece of equipment if there is no place specifically designed for that purpose. Examples include riding on a tractor fender, a front-end loader bucket, etc.