Everyone who drives is familiar with the concept of driving safety tips for employees.
However, that doesn’t mean we can’t be guilty of acting in an unsafe manner or that we shouldn’t examine our driving habits.
In this post, we’ve discussed the driving safety tips for employees.
13 Driving Safety Tips for Employees
1. Inspect the Car Before Leaving
Verify that the windshield wipers are positioned appropriately and are working and that the mirrors are clean, clear, and in good shape. Ensure you have enough screenwash and the lights are clean and in good working order.
Do the headrest, mirrors, and seat all fit your needs? Make sure everything is in working order by performing a pre-trip inspection. Speak with your supervisor if you don’t believe the vehicle is capable of the journey.
Lastly, make sure the tires are mounted correctly and have enough tread.
2. Regulate Your Journey
Consider whether you can do your work without driving. Can you save needless driving by a phone conversation, email, or online meeting? Probably, using public transportation might lower risks.
View the road and traffic conditions. Additionally, double-check your intended path and look into a backup plan. Create a check-in contact and inform your manager of your plan.
3. Examine the Weather Before the Travel
You might want to postpone or cancel your trip if bad weather is predicted. If you still choose to travel, reduce the hazards by giving yourself more time and bringing winter emergency supplies such as warm clothing, a spade, a mobile phone, and a blanket. Also, don’t forget to water and food!
4. Adhere to Traffic Laws
Never operate a motor vehicle when intoxicated. Wear a seatbelt, observe posted speed limits, and refrain from using a cell phone unless your car is parked. Always wear your contact lenses or glasses if you need to drive.
Traffic regulations are what bring order to the roads. Without order, there would be a lot more accidents. In congested cities, traffic lights aid in maintaining order and make it possible for motorists and pedestrians to utilize the road safely.
5. Constantly Use a Seatbelt
Being fully ejected from a car is almost always fatal; being strapped up during such a crash aids keep you secure and safe within your car. You risk being propelled into a frontal air bag that is rapidly opening if you don’t buckle up. You could be hurt or perhaps killed by such force.
The likelihood of being ejected from a car in a collision for someone not using their seat belt is 30 times higher.
6. Inform Your Supervisor If Something Impairs Your Ability to Drive
Inform your management immediately if anything happens that will compromise your capacity to drive legally. Examples include problems with one’s health, fines, accidents, etc.
The way that people drive while they are on the road is affected by stress and worry. For instance, a family dispute or a negative life event might make someone more aggressive and make it simpler for them to lose patience with other drivers. Similar to how driving decision-making might be impacted by personal stress at work.
Recognizing and controlling one’s emotions can help drivers deal with situations like road rage more effectively. Additionally, you can put in place a system that identifies backup drivers whenever one of your coworkers reports an unexpected stressor.
7. Get some Rest
According to OSHA, tired or sleepy driving may factor in over 100,000 collisions annually, which cause around 40,000 injuries and nearly 2,000 fatalities.
You have a big impact on safe driving. As an employee, you can get yourself safe driving handouts for guidance. Establish frequent rest periods you can get out, stretch, hydrate, and eat. Additionally, you need to have fair working hours. Federal regulations govern the length of time that a driver may drive a commercial vehicle.
Consult the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for a safe driving handout and a list of hours-of-service rules.
8. Avoid Drinking and Driving
Alcohol in the bloodstream can impair your ability to drive at any level. Alcohol addiction can have a wide range of impacts, increasing your chance of getting into an accident or hurting someone on the road. Driving safely necessitates being able to focus, make wise decisions, and act fast in emergencies.
9. Regularly Make Stops
Schedule frequent rest stops along the way. You should take a 15-minute rest every 2-3 hours of driving.
State-sponsored rest areas are an excellent spot to get some fresh air, have food, and use the restroom if you’re driving on an interstate. Gas stations, nearby eateries, and parks are other excellent locations to stop after a long journey.
10. Consider other Drivers and Be Patient
By driving safely and steadily, defensive driving practices lower the risk of an accident or issues and save money on fuel and car maintenance.
11. Reduce External Distractions
Vehicle accidents frequently result from distractions. Mobile devices are the main source of distractions. Driving while texting, responding to calls, or using social media is a bad habit that needs to be broken. People may engage in these behaviors unintentionally, for example, while stopped at a red light or when they unexpectedly receive a text message notification.
Driving responsibly is crucial to maintaining traffic safety. To prevent distractions and encourage drivers to pay attention, employ sensors with strict alert systems.
Also, install built-in multimedia players and hands-free technology in your vehicles to urge your drivers to maintain their attention on the road.
12. Inform Others About Dangerous Paths
After your journey, alert your coworkers about key locations or danger zones so they can avoid the same issues, be more prepared, or make significant modifications like timing.
13. Verify that You Have a Valid Driver’s License
That entails possessing the proper license for that specific type and size of the vehicle, such as a license to operate a car, HGV, motorcycle, forklift truck, etc.
Final Word
Having clear driver safety policies, procedures, and training is crucial. You not only need to have these regulations, but you also need to make sure that your staff is aware of them for enhanced safety.
Hopefully, this post will help give you the needed driving safety tips for employees.