One of the biggest challenges fleet managers face is the high frequency of road accidents. There are over 6 million car accidents a year in the US alone, resulting in more than 40,000 motor vehicle-related deaths. Not only is this devastating on face value, but these crashes can cost employers thousands and thousands of dollars for each injured driver. These reasons are enough to make driving risks a central factor in employee policies.
Reasons for Crashes
A huge culprit in these vehicle accidents is distracted driving. Any behavior that takes a driver’s attention off the road like texting, phone calls, eating, or even talking to a passenger results in distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that distracted driving contributed to almost 17% of the drivers that caused accidents. Texting while driving is the most common reason for distracted driving and contributes to 25% of all crashes annually.
There’s Always a Risk
Driving risks will always be present in road freight transport; however, there are ways to mitigate some of them with preventative measures. Liability and damages are covered by the company, not the driver, so it’s always in an employer’s best interest to avoid accidents in all ways possible. These ways include:
- Advanced training programs for drivers to be completed before beginning their first driving assignment
- Strict consequences for employees that violate driving policies
- Reducing Driver’s Workload
- Implementing Driver Rewards Programs for Safe Driving
- Correcting Infractions the First Time they occur
- Use the latest safety technology
Driving infractions are bound to occur, no matter how hard you work to prevent them. However, implementing new and ever-evolving programs to prevent as many as possible is in the best interest of our personnel, your company and the cargo in transport.