With many thousands of people losing their lives and sustaining injuries every year in traffic accidents, the road is a highly dangerous place to be. This is especially the case with drivers on your commercial fleet, as they spend more time driving on the roads than average, and are maneuvering large and bulky vehicles. Fortunately, there are several easy steps to take to ensure that your drivers remain as safe behind the wheel as possible. Here are four ways to increase driver safety on your commercial fleet.
- Install a dash cam on company vehicles
Installing a fleet tracking system with camera on all of your commercial vehicles is a simple way of providing your fleet with extra protection. They provide views both inside and outside of your vehicles, so that drivers can monitor the security of their cargo. This camera footage is stored as video and can be used as evidence in the case of theft and accidents, providing crucial information for insurance companies and other investigations. Furthermore, some dash cam systems even provide driver coaching to ensure that your drivers are operating as safely as possible.
- Conduct an MVR check on every driver
A motor vehicle report (MVR) check should be a mandatory part of your driver recruitment process. An MVR provides you with information relating to an individual’s driving history, including details of any violations like speeding tickets and crashes, or if the person’s license has ever been revoked for any reason. This ensures that the drivers on your fleet can be trusted to drive safely and conscientiously. You could even conduct MVR checks on your employees intermittently to make sure that they continue to drive at a high standard.
- Create a ‘no distracted driving’ policy
Distracted driving makes up a huge proportion of road traffic accidents, so establish a ‘no distracted driving policy’ to prevent this from becoming an issue in your company. Cell phones should only be used on a hands-free device, and if a driver needs to make a lengthy call or check something on their phone, they should pull over before doing so. You might also consider placing some restrictions on radio use while in company vehicles; though they can help to make long journeys more pleasant, if played at a loud volume they can prove to be distracting and prevent the driver from hearing warning signals.
- Provide drivers with ongoing training
Like all workplace skills, ongoing training can ensure that your drivers continue to operate at a high standard with a focus on safety. Classroom instruction can be combined with behind the wheel training to ensure that your drivers are 100% familiar with road signs and the rules of the road, and are trained in towing and operating commercial vehicles. You could also consider providing thorough training in the use of GPS systems, as these can quickly become hazardous distractions if not used correctly and safely.
Remember, you can’t put a price on safety.
