Whether your company manages a large fleet of delivery vehicles or simply loans out a few company cars for sales calls, creating and enforcing an effective safe driving policy can save your company a great deal of time and money. When accidents happen, whether on company time or not, employers often bear the cost: employees miss time from work, company property is damaged, and the company can be liable for damages incurred.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for all ages in the US. On-the-job crashes cost employers an average of $60 billion per year in revenue! In addition, these crashes will raise the cost of important benefits like disability insurance, social security, and workers’ compensation. Each crash costs an employer around $74,000; costs will exceed $500,000 if a fatality is involved. Creating and implementing an effective safe driving program will protect financial and human resources; reduce liability; and, above all, ensure the continued health and safety of employees and their families.
Safe driving policies, along with driver safety training, are proven to produce results. The National of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) recommends a ten-step program for the successful creation and implementation of a safe driving policy. I’ll outline the basic principles of this policy below.
In 1998, Nationwide, one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in America, implemented a driver safety program along these lines. In the following year, Nationwide saw a 53% reduction in crashes, reducing the cost of operating the company’s motor vehicle fleet by 40%. Other companies have seen similarly drastic benefits. These programs are proven to work!
BECOME A SAFER DRIVER
Whether an employer or an employee, the first step towards ensuring safer driving policies at your company is to set a good example for others by being a safe driver oneself! Commit yourself to becoming a safer and more aware driver. Today’s highways are so over-crowded that even cautious and experienced drivers can have trouble navigating them safely. One has to be continuously vigilant and exacting about safety.
No matter what you do, always think safety first. Then, follow these basic good driving principles:
· Wear your seatbelt at all times and ensure your passengers do the same.
· Avoid frustration! Try to remain calm at all times; breathe deeply if you start to become aggravated. Also try not to frustrate others. Strive to be the most courteous driver on the road, no matter how others behave!
· Observe all posted signs and speed limits.
· Avoid distractions, especially cell-phone usage!
· Maintain a safe following distance.
· Conduct a safety check before driving, to make sure that tires, lights, and wipers are in good shape. Adjust your mirrors before setting out.
· Be alert, pay attention to your surroundings, and always look ahead for hazards.
· Avoid fatigue.
· Take a defensive driving course to improve your driving skills.
COMPONENTS OF A SAFE DRIVING POLICY
These basic safe driving practices should be clearly communicated to all employees in your company’s driving policy. This policy will set out the basic expectations and requirements for anyone driving a company vehicle or driving a personal vehicle while conducting company business. In this policy, consider covering the following areas:
1. Employees must maintain adequate licensing and, if driving their own vehicles, insurance.
2. Employees must adhere to all state and federal laws.
3. Employees must promptly report accidents, tickets, and violations.
4. Employees must practice safe driving habits.
5. Employees must never drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
6. Employees must always wear seatbelts.
7. Employees must adhere to clearly stated policies regarding the transportation of passengers.
These are just a few of the key points that should be covered in an effective safe driving policy.
ENSURING POLICY EFFECTIVENESS
Designing a policy, however, is just the first step. Beyond that, it takes commitment and dedication to make sure that the policy is widely understood and adopted, so that the company and its employees see real results.
Those in leadership positions should set a positive example, both in their own driving and in the expectations they communicate to their employees. For example, those in management positions should never pressure their subordinates to text or call while driving. The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires that employers provide a workplace free of hazards. Driving is now considered a workspace and distracted driving a hazard; as more and more states enact bans on cell phone use while driving, it’s more important than ever that employees not take calls or texts while driving.
When designing a policy, it’s crucial to get all employees and senior management involved. Make sure that all levels of the company staff involved in the planning process, so that everyone will be more likely to accept and understand the policy.
Together, create a written policy that is clear, comprehensive, and effective. This policy needs to be distributed to all employees and posted in the workplace. Because we all tend to be forgetful, it’s a good idea to re-distribute the policy from time to time, so that everyone stays informed. This way, you’ll also be able to communicate any changes to the policy.
Have employees sign a safe driving agreement, so that management and staff are on the same page about what is expected and required.
Conduct annual checks of employees’ motor vehicle records. Make sure to have clearly communicated limits for the number of acceptable violations. Additionally, establish a training program for employees with repeated offenses.
Make sure to have a clear process for reporting and investigating crashes and similar incidents, so that employees know what the proper procedure is in such a situation.
Create a reward or incentive program to encourage employees who drive safely and maintain safe driving habits. Positive reinforcements are often more effective than negative ones!
Continue to provide safe driver training to employees. It’s easy for all of us to become complacent; having a little extra encouragement and advice from time to time is a great way to ensure continued safe driving. A defensive driving course is a great way to remind your employees of the importance of safe driving while equipping them with the skills they’ll need to navigate any kind of driving emergency.
For more information on safe driver policies and driving tips, check out these resources:
Network of Employers for Traffic Safety www.trafficsafety.org
Occupational Safety and Health Administration www.osha.gov
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Business Defensive Driving www.businessdefensivedriving.com
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