According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), someone dies in a motor vehicle crash every twelve minutes. Also, according to that same data, every five seconds a crash occurs.
For employers that manage a fleet, the costs relating to vehicle accidents add up fast. You hope your drivers are responsible and careful on the road, but how can you be sure?
Thankfully, there are ways to improve fleet safety for your drivers, which can help reduce or eliminate accidents altogether. Stick with us as we go over everything you need to know to implement a driver safety program.
Why You Need a Driver Safety Program
We already talked about how frequently motor vehicle accidents happen, but let's dive deeper into why this matters for you.
Distracted driving is the leading cause of vehicle accidents. There are many reasons why your drivers may get distracted on the road, such as a call on their phone or eating while driving. Any moment a driver looks away from the road puts them and others on the road at risk.
Two other leading causes of motor vehicle accidents are reckless driving and going over the speed limits.
One way to manage your fleets and lower risky behavior on the road is to use fleet tracking systems and safety tools to ensure your drivers do everything right. For instance, a two-way dashcam monitors the road as well as what your driver is doing at that moment. Dashcam footage can prove which party is at fault in an accident, saving you both time and money (and headaches).
Benefits to a Driver Safety Program
Now that you know more about the tools that can help you monitor driver safety let's cover the benefits of using these tools and implementing a driver safety program.
For one, you can track cell phone behavior. Cell phone monitoring ensures that your fleet drivers aren't getting distracted and looking at their phones. With driver safety management tools, you can view incoming and outbound calls.
Another benefit is that you can track the speed of your fleet vehicles. Knowing which drivers constantly go over the speed limit can alert you so you can address the issue with them before it becomes a problem.
You can also tell what the conditions were like when the driver went over the speed limit. If one of your employees was speeding in bad weather with poor visibility, this would be a major red flag.
You can address and correct reckless behavior with the right safety training program. A recent study covering work-related accidents and fatalities concluded proper training resulted in fewer injury and collision rates.
In the next point, we'll cover how to create a driver safety program.
Creating a Driver Safety Program
If you're wondering how to keep drivers safe and reduce the number of work-related fleet accidents, the answer is to create a safety program. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Screening Drivers
Everything begins with a thorough screening process. You want drivers with a good safety record, as these drivers are more likely to follow the rules of the road. Drivers should prioritize safety and take training seriously.
Create Safety Policies
When creating your driver safety program, make sure you write up a set of standards and rules your drivers need to follow. This should include all procedures and safety policies. These standards should also include instruction on how to drive safely in various conditions and include techniques and strategies for safer driving.
For many drivers, it's likely been some time since they acquired their driving license, and they may have forgotten some of the rules of the road. Drivers should take this training seriously and also be aware of how you plan to track and enforce these safety procedures.
Drivers should also understand how you keep up with inspections, licensing, renewals, and so on.
Training Drivers
Proper training is the best way to prevent accidents and injuries. Drivers need to understand safety policies, proper techniques, and how to handle the vehicles on the road.
A proper training program should include techniques and tips on defensive driving. Drivers should also know what to do if an accident occurs. Additional training, such as safety videos, can help them to understand and avoid risky behavior on the road.
Use Fleet Tracking Software to Enforce Policies
Now that we've covered the benefits of fleet safety and a driver safety management program, you're probably wondering how to track a fleet. After all, the best way to enforce driver safety and protect your business is to track those metrics.
You can use fleet tracking software to keep an eye on your fleet at all times and make the process much easier.
Fleet telematics keeps drivers safe and helps cut costs for you. By providing key insights, business owners can then take actions to improve safety and reduce any risky behaviors. This helps improve fleet safety overall and provides you with the peace of mind you need to run your business.
What are some of the benefits of our fleet tracking software?
- Driver scores and habits
- Two-way dashcam footage
- Call monitoring to reduce distractions
- Speeding insights
- Rewards for good driving behavior
- Training videos and techniques for drivers
These are only a few of the many benefits of using software to track your fleet. Imagine all the time and money you can save when you rely on software to keep an eye on your fleet for you. Think of fleet tracking software as an integral part of your workforce.
Fleet Safety Begins Here
To prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities, it's key that you implement the right driver safety management program. Creating a driver safety program and using fleet tracking software are the first two steps you need to take.
Fleet safety begins with the right tools. At Azuga, we want to help you keep your fleet and your drivers safe. To see how our software can improve driver safety and take your business to the next level, try a demo today!
