Safety Resources- Safe Driving Tips

Use these safe driving tips to elevate your safe driving practices in your workplace.

• Leverage Management Commitment. Strong management commitment means that your organization recognizes driving as one of the most dangerous work tasks and does what it can to protect those employees who drive on the job. That includes identifying risks, training, and providing resources.
  
  
• Select Drivers Carefully. Check Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) for all employees who drive on the job. Screen out drivers who have poor driving records since they are most likely to have accidents or cause issues. The MVR should be reviewed at least annually to ensure that the driver maintains a positive driving status. Clearly define the number of violations an employee can have before losing the privilege of driving for work, and provide training where indicated.
  
  
• Prohibit Distracted, Impaired and Fatigued Driving. These risk factors are the greatest contributors to crashes and fatalities today.
• Alcohol and drug impaired driving - Alcohol use is involved in 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes
• Distracted Driving – More and more organizations have strong policies to prevent the handheld use of mobile phones for any purpose while driving
  
  
• Enforce a Driving Policy Agreement with Employees. Your driving policies and procedures should clearly state your expectations. Establish a contract with all employees who drive for work purposes, whether they drive assigned company vehicles or drive their personal vehicles. By signing an agreement, the driver acknowledges awareness and understanding of the organization's traffic safety policies, procedures, and expectations regarding driver performance, vehicle maintenance and reporting of moving violations.
  
  
• Provide Driver’s Training. Make your driver’s training dynamic. Include videos, ride-alongs, driver observations, and other methods that engage employees. OSHA provides a variety of training resources you can provide your employees.
• Driver Observations and Feedback – Nothing shows you care more than getting in for a ride. Giving your honest feedback can reinforce your commitment to safety. Use MMA’s Driving Observation Report Form as your guide.
  
  
• Require seat belt use. It’s not optional. Seat belts are the single most effective means of reducing deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes. Seat belts save nearly 12,000 lives and prevent 325,000 serious injuries in America each year.
  
  
• Consider Using Driver Behavior Monitoring Technology. Many options are available for monitoring driver performance including OBD2 devices, telematics, and in-vehicle video cameras.
  
  
• Make Vehicles Safe too. Pay close attention to vehicle selection, maintenance and inspection. A safe vehicle starts with the best safety features, and the best on-going care including excellent tires and brakes. 
  
  
• Investigate and report vehicle incidents. Ensure your drivers know what to do in the event of a crash.  Use MMA’s Vehicle Accident Reporting document as a guide. Ensure that every driver has a copy or similar information. 
  
  
• Ensure Regulatory Compliance. If your fleet is subject to Department of Transportation regulations; embrace regulatory standards to improve your fleet’s safety.   

For more information or for help putting together a safe driving training or policy for your organization, contact your local Marsh & McLennan Agency representative.