Enforce Safe Driving Practices with your Team
Safe roads are vital for everyone. Distracted driving remains a problem in the US. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019, 16% higher than 2018.
This risky behavior isn’t limited to cell phone use and texting; other ways that drivers get distracted are eating, talking to passengers, and adjusting the radio, navigation, or climate controls.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established guidelines for employers and their drivers to keep our roads safer.
- Establish a strong driving policy that prohibits the use of portable electronic devices while driving
- Develop work procedures and rules that don’t make it necessary to text while driving
- Make safe driving a vital part of your business culture by reinforcing the message often
- Provide ongoing safe driver training
- Train workers on the hazards of distractions within the vehicle and to not rely solely on navigation systems
- Remind workers to practice extra caution in inclement weather and to not drive while fatigued
- Establish procedures for drivers to safely communicate with managers, customers, and others
- Perform proper maintenance on all vehicles
- Check the driving records of workers who drive for work purposes