Nice job on the 34 years. Are you the rule or the exception? How do you train those that aren't as gifted as you are on defensive driving?
Most posts here still tend to lose focus and try to turn this thread into a B session on safety.
your points you make are that ups does not do enough for safety. But then as Griff did you try to reject the training they provide you that can help you drive defensively and can help you work more safely.
The folks in my center that are getting involved in accidents and injuries are the same folks that can recite “The stuff” word for word. Without exception they can say it all during a post injury/accident investigation. Guys like myself (old school) that aren’t very good at memorizing “The stuff” go day after day without accidents or injuries. I haven’t a clue if this is the norm everywhere else but in my world it’s fact. Another fact is that management has limited Safety Committee attendance to those with little experience in the job. Not one member has more than 3 years driving. I’ve offered on several occasions to serve, can’t, I’d be over 950. That attitude shows me the company has little interest in real solutions. BTW, I’m known to management as a guy that goes out and gets it done every day without any issues. So I’m not what they would refer to as a bad apple.
Maybe the company would be better served if they had the new guys with perfect memory spend a day on car with me. I can show them that time is never ever made up behind the wheel. Time is made up when the car is parked. You can’t deliver packages and drive at the same time, it’s one or the other. I’ll use “Scan Steering Wheels” as an example. I was doing that way before it was cool, my dad taught me (he never worked for UPS). But you had better be “Scanning Bumpers” as well. Why? That’s where most small children are likely to be standing or sitting on their bike. I could go on.
Bottom line, if UPS wants to fire/discipline me for a poor memory, so be it. I guess they can replace me with someone that is very likely to go out and cost them thousands of dollars in a Tier 3 accident. But hey, they could recite “The Stuff”.
BTW Tie, I wish I worked for you, I suspect you would be open to suggestions. Or you would at least say why we couldn't. More than I can say about my current management.