Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of workplace deaths and injuries, costing employers in the United States an estimated $60 billion annually in medical expenses, legal costs, lost productivity, and property damage. However, many of these incidents can be prevented through the implementation of a comprehensive traffic safety program in the workplace. This article provides an overview of practical steps employers can take to promote safe driving practices and minimize crash-related losses.
The Need for Action
The statistics on motor vehicle crashes and their impact on the workplace are alarming:
- Every 12 minutes, someone dies in a motor vehicle crash. Every 10 seconds, a crash-related injury occurs. And every 5 seconds, a crash happens.
- The average crash costs an employer $16,500. When the crash results in an injury, the cost skyrockets to $74,000. Fatal crashes can exceed $500,000 in costs to the employer.
- These crashes increase expenses for workers’ compensation, health insurance, disability benefits, and administrative costs for incident management.
It is clear that motor vehicle crashes present not just a safety issue, but also a serious financial burden threatening an organization’s bottom line. Implementing a traffic safety program is vital for protecting human capital and fiscal resources.
10 Fundamental Steps for a Successful Program
The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS), in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), suggests 10 key steps for developing a best-practice program:
- Senior management commitment and employee involvement – Obtain buy-in from leadership and encourage participation across all levels of staff.
- Written policies and procedures – Establish clear rules and expectations for driving, vehicle maintenance, crash reporting, etc. and communicate these to employees.
- Driver agreements – Have employees sign contracts indicating their understanding of traffic safety protocols.
- Motor vehicle record checks – Screen drivers based on driving history and review records periodically. Set thresholds for violations/crashes warranting discipline.
- Crash reporting and investigation – Require documentation and analysis of all collisions, regardless of severity, to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.
- Vehicle selection, inspection and maintenance – Choose vehicles with safety features, maintain them properly per manufacturer guidelines, and inspect them routinely.
- Disciplinary procedures – Develop a system for progressive discipline when repeated violations or preventable crashes occur.
- Incentives and rewards – Motivate and recognize safe driving behaviors.
- Training and communication – Conduct initial and ongoing training to refresh awareness; share safety messages regularly.
- Regulatory compliance – Identify and adhere to all applicable municipal, state and federal transportation regulations.
Safety Issues Requiring Emphasis
While comprehensive in scope, an employer’s safety program should emphasize hazards known to contribute to work-related driving crashes, including:
Distracted Driving
Activities like cell phone use, eating, conversing with passengers, or adjusting the radio divert attention and increase crash risk. Policies should prohibit these unsafe practices.
Impaired Driving
Alcohol and drug impairment slow reaction times and impair judgment, problems compounded by common work demands like overnight travel or early start times which align driving duties more frequently with late-night hours. Strict prohibitions on these activities while driving for work should be enacted and enforced.
Fatigued Driving
Long shifts and lengthy commutes contribute to drowsiness that endangers driver and public safety. Employers should promote awareness of fatigue symptoms and require rest breaks to counteract its effects.
Aggressive Driving
Heavy traffic, tight schedules, and other work-related frustrations may provoke reactive aggressive behaviors like speeding, tailgating, unsafe passing which threaten everyone’s safety. Employers should advise constructive stress management techniques and discourage engagement with hostile drivers.
Success Stories
Many companies have already realized bottom-line benefits from implementing traffic safety programs aligned with these NETS-endorsed best practices:
- Nationwide Insurance reduced preventable crashes by 53% and total collision costs by 40% over 5 years.
- Charter Communications increased seat belt usage to 94% while decreasing crashes 30% through campaigns that educated employees and created accountability.
- General Motors credits its extensive safe driving initiative focused on seat belt use and workplace programming for preventing an estimated 5 employee deaths annually.
Extending Impact into the Community
Once a workplace traffic safety program demonstrates internal efficacy, employers can multiply benefits by extending elements to employee families and the local community through initiatives like:
- Sponsoring safety presentations at PTA meetings, schools, or community centers
- Distributing educational materials on key traffic risks through corporate publications and websites
- Offering defensive driving courses to employees’ teenage children
- Publicizing safe driving incentive programs and awards in local media
Creating a Culture of Safety
On roads that grow more congested each year, implementing a formal traffic safety strategy is one of the most impactful actions an employer can take to protect their personnel, reputation, and finances from the ravages of preventable crashes. Every workplace can tailor a program to address their specific risks by embracing the 10 fundamental elements highlighted here as their framework. Executed with authentic commitment from managers and staff alike, organizations can transform their culture into one focused on safe driving practices 24/7. Workers secure in this environment will spread that safety-first mindset through their own spheres of influence at work, at home, and on daily commutes, creating a ripple effect that improves wellbeing for all.
Sources:
