Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a prime opportunity to discuss fleet safety and go beyond examining simple rules like not texting and driving. Organizations promoting a culture that champions proper road safety start by screening drivers in the hiring process and providing ongoing training and support throughout an employee’s career. 

Unfortunately, many companies may not adhere to road safety rules to the degree they should. Insurance companies have been losing money on auto premiums in the last eight years, resulting in premium rate increases. In 2020, despite fewer drivers on the road, there was a 24% spike in roadway deaths compared to 2019. The first six months of 2021 saw the highest rate of automobile fatalities in over 13 years. Organizations must prioritize safe driving standards for all employees in an effort to counteract that trend. 

 Fleet safety aims to help keep your employees and crews alert and injury-free on the roads. It is about creating a safety culture that helps protect your most valuable asset—your people. 

 Elements of Fleet Safety

Only qualified drivers should be allowed behind the wheel, which requires proper evaluation of driving records for everyone operating a vehicle for the company. In a five-year time frame, more than three moving vehicle violations or one DUI should be red flags. 

For many organizations, the vehicle and equipment used depend on the scope of the job or project. If this is the case, all employees should receive safety training on the vehicles they may drive for work before becoming designated as an approved driver for the company. They should attend regular classes throughout their employment, including training on routine maintenance checks, mirror adjustment and other actions to keep vehicles and their occupants safe.   

Distracted Driving

According to the CDC, distracted driving takes the lives of an average of eight people each day—3,000 people every year. Even with more states outlawing the use of cell phones without a hands-free device, distracted driving remains a significant problem. Drivers are still texting, sending emails or engaging with social media on our highways.  

Distracted driving courses and lessons are a vital pillar of road safety culture. Encouraging drivers to be patient and wait until after the car is parked to answer a call, email or text may help prevent collisions, injuries and death.  

Leverage Telematics

Telematic systems, like installed GPS systems, allow drivers to rely less on their phones and pay more attention to the road. No one should need to take their eyes off the road to find their next turn. 

Consider April’s Distracted Driving Awareness campaign to kickstart a safer organizational culture. Whether that means training your staff or implementing ways to keep drivers off their phones, every company can make incremental changes to help make the roads more safe. 

For more information about mitigating distracted driving among your fleet, contact Brown & Brown today

Risk Control Team