Jul 2016
Important Safety Tips for the Fleet Driver
Avoid Distractions
Staying focused while driving is becoming a difficult task for drivers in today’s ever distracting world. With cell phones, billboards, needy passengers (i.e. children), scenery, and potentially attractive drivers in the car next to you all vying for attention, it may seem impossible to focus on the road. Studies show that 21% of accidents resulting in injury involved a distracted driver, so put down the cell phone, apply your makeup at home, and keep your eyes and mind focused on the road.
Prevent Fatigued Driving
Studies show the most common times that drivers feel fatigued are late at night and in the early afternoon while digesting lunch. If you begin to experience heavy eyes, frequent yawns, or lane drifting be sure to pull over and walk around, take a nap, or rotate driver duties. It may also be a good idea, for both fatigue prevention and your waistline, to trade that burger and fries for a lighter lunch.
Use Caution in Poor Driving Conditions
Rain, ice, snow, fog, and high winds all impact how you should be driving at a given time. Drivers must adjust to these conditions by driving below the speed limit, maintaining extra space between you and the car ahead, and adjusting headlights for fog and low visibility conditions. In extreme cases it may be best to pull off to a safe place to wait out the storm.
Practice Defensive Driving
We’re all on the roads together with the common goal of getting to point ‘B’ as quickly as possible. Maintaining a safe following distance, resisting road rage, staying focused, never assuming the other driver sees you, and keeping up with the flow of traffic are all ways to improve your defensive driving. And for those who drive down the left lane only to cut in front of everyone on the exit ramp at the last second, you don’t cut in line at the grocery store, so what makes it okay to do so on the road?
Properly Maintain your Vehicle
Preventative maintenance is a key aspect of vehicle safety that is often overlooked. If your vehicle is not maintained properly, it won’t function correctly. It’s important to always stay up-to-date on your brake work, oil changes, tire pressure and rotations, headlight/taillight bulbs, and all fluids. These very simple measures help to ensure your vehicle is running safely and efficiently.
Wear Your Seat Belt
By this point, wearing a seat belt should be as much a given as putting on deodorant or hanging up on a telemarketer. Seat belts save thousands of lives each year and help to reduce the risk of serious injury by more than 50%. It’s a very simple task that should be done each time you’re behind the wheel.
Monitor Your Speed
While almost none of us drive the exact speed limit at all times, it’s important to respect these limits. Keeping up with the flow of traffic and exceeding the speed limit by a few MPH is completely understandable. However, there are times where it’s important to drive at or below the speed limit, such as in school zones, bad weather conditions, construction zones, and while in residential neighborhoods. Monitor your speed along with the flow of traffic to make sure you’re driving at a reasonable rate.
Don’t Drink and Drive
This is about as self-explanatory as it can get. This is not only dangerous but is also against the law and can result in loss of license, excessive fines, loss of job, and jail time.
