SynTerra safety

Driving Safety

Posted April 2, 2020

More than 35,000 people die in automotive crashes every year in the United States. For the safety of ourselves, passengers, and others on the roads, it is important that we always practice safe driving.

For starters, driving while impaired is incredibly dangerous and should never be done. In fact, one-third of all vehicle fatalities involve alcohol or drugs, and that includes prescription drugs. If you need a ride home, phone a friend, call a taxi, or use a rideshare service. No one should ever get behind the wheel while intoxicated and all laws related to use of substances should be abided.

In addition to never driving under the influence, there are a few other tips to help drivers stay accident free. They should only drive when fully rested, and they should never drive with one eye on your phone, whether you’re texting or pulling up a podcast. Drivers should also make sure that all loads are securely fastened to their vehicles before hitting the road.

Now more than ever, we are faced with an increasing number of driving distractions, like hands-free smart phones, interactive screens inside our vehicles, busy schedules that can cause us to rush from one place to the next, and rambunctious backseat passengers. When you’re on the road, maintain your focus by remembering the following rules:

Only make necessary calls and, if possible, use your smartphone’s hands-free features so you can keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Most phones have a feature that can be enabled while you are driving that sends an automatic message to inform the party trying to reach you that you are driving and will respond when you are
Do not text and drive. If you have a message to send, ask a passenger to text it for you, make a handsfree call, or pull over.
Do not browse apps, check notifications, or read emails.
Do not eat or groom and drive.
If you need to use smartphone features, pull up your maps or music before you begin driving.

Many drivers know texting while driving is dangerous but it also is illegal in 48 states and the District of Columbia. More information on distracted driving is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Another important reminder: make sure you are securely hauling your loads. From 2011 to 2014 more than 200,000 crashes occurred as a result of debris on U.S. roadways, according to a AAA study. These crashes led to more than 500 deaths and 39,000 injuries. Around two-thirds of these accidents were the result of improper maintenance and unsecured loads. In order to avoid these types of accident, consider the following:

Properly strap all items to the vehicle so they are secured as you travel.
Monitor your vehicle’s weight limit and do not overload your vehicle with something it was not designed to carry.
Flag your load if it extends beyond the cargo area so other drivers are aware.
Mind road and bridge clearances and weight limits.

Drowsy driving occurs when people take the wheel despite experiencing feelings of sleepiness and fatigue. The consequences can be deadly. More than 5,000 people died in drowsy driving-related crashes in 2015.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports more than one-third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours a day. If you are driving, make sure you are well rested so you can pay proper attention to the road.
Whether you are tired from a lack of sleep or simply a long day, allow your mind to rest before getting behind the wheel.
If you feel tired while driving, pull into a designated rest area to safely close your eyes before returning to the road

By taking responsibility for our driving, we protect those that are on the road. These tips are not only important for employers and companies but families and young drivers. Simple precautions can save money and lives. April is the National Safety Council’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, for information on distracted driving head to their website.

Kathy Webb, P.G.

Senior Market Leader | Principal

Kathy Webb, who co-founded SynTerra (then known as The Fletcher Group) in 1992, has completed remedial investigations and regulatory compliance projects associated with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) facilities, state and federal Superfund sites, solid waste landfills, brownfield redevelopment, utility coal combustion residual (CCR) management units, and regulated industrial facilities. She has supported litigation as an expert witness related to chlorinated solvents, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Kathy is known for her practical assessment strategy with the perspective of the client’s business objectives. She routinely evaluates groundwater corrective action systems for effectiveness and progress toward achieving compliance objectives. She has co-authored a trade journal paper with case studies of low-impact remedial strategies. Kathy is a licensed Professional Geologist in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Mark Taylor, P.G.

Principal

Mark has worked more than 40 years in natural-resource based industries. His expertise includes mine geology and mine engineering, hydrogeologic and geotechnical investigations, solid and hazardous waste management, and regulatory negotiations. He has published peer-reviewed papers about coal geology, ore geochemistry, mineralogy, and solid waste management. He is a leading expert in mining and environmental permitting for litigation support.

Mark is licensed as a Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Washington. He serves on the boards of the Upstate Red Cross and Upstate Forever. He served on the South Carolina Board of Registration for Geologists for six years. Mark holds a Master’s degree in Geological Sciences from The University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Geological Science from Harvard University.

Andrea Kehn, P.E.

Vice President of Engineering | Principal

Andrea Kehn, leader of our Civil & Environmental Engineering Business Unit, has 28 years of experience in chemical manufacturing and environmental consulting. She leads and supervises staff professionals on multidisciplinary projects for a variety of industrial clients. Andrea’s vast experience and expertise includes: air quality construction and operating permitting; air quality modeling; air permit record-keeping and reporting; Oil Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP); NPDES permitting; water quality modeling; process safety management; risk management compliance and auditing; and RCRA compliance.

Andrea is registered as a Professional Engineer in South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ruth Albright, P.E.

Vice President | Principal

Ruth has led projects for major industrial facilities throughout the Southeast and beyond. She built her knowledge of environmental regulations and their application to manufacturing operations while working for the second largest chemical manufacturing company in the United States. At SynTerra, she has expanded both her knowledge and reputation working for chemical manufacturing operations of all sizes. She has also worked extensively with other manufacturing operations, including pulp and paper, industrial equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, and automotive parts and assembly. Her experience includes air and wastewater permit compliance, solid and hazardous waste management, solid waste construction permitting, hazardous materials transportation, wastewater treatment systems, air pollution control equipment operations and maintenance, and ambient air monitoring systems.

Ruth is a professional engineer registered in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Michigan, Arkansas, and Kentucky. She is an active member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Environmental Technical Committee and serves as the chair of the water subcommittee. She has previously served as the program and committee chair for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Environmental Affairs committee. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clemson University.