According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured in motor vehicle crashes each year in the U.S. Furthermore, as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports, motor vehicle crashes continue to be the No. 1 cause of employee fatalities.
Key Factors that Result in Crashes
There are several risk factors that are associated with fatal motor vehicle accidents. These include:
- Not using seat belts
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
Given what we know, there are some crash prevention strategies that all drivers should adhere to. The CDC recommends that employers take the following actions to lower the risk of their employees being involved in motor vehicle accidents:
- Require seat belt use at all times in company vehicles, as well as in personal vehicles that are used to facilitate company business.
- Monitor the costs and causes of crashes in their workforce to support and guide motor vehicle safety programs.
- Arrange work schedules to reduce distracted driving, fatigue and speeding.
- Select company vehicles with advanced safety features such as electronic stability control, lane departure warning systems and collision avoidance systems.
Some Final Thoughts
Whether or not you employ a mobile workforce, there’s no doubt that the majority of your employees operate motor vehicles when commuting to and from work. Given the statistics, it makes sense to address the issue of motor vehicle safety with your employees.
