Keeping your commercial fleet is a top priority for fleet managers. A lot of accidents take place that involve business vehicles, so it’s clear to see why this is so important. Employers have a duty to provide their staff with a working environment that is safe.
As well as protecting your employees and avoiding any major harm or injury, even minor accidents can cause expensive maintenance and downtime, which you will want to avoid. Here are some tips on how to make sure your fleet is safe and distraction-free out on the road.
Regular Vehicle Checks
Your vehicles should be inspected regularly, with regular maintenance carried out, to keep your fleet in a safe condition. This will ultimately keep any time that vehicles have to be off the road to a minimum. A well-serviced vehicle is less likely to run into any problems on the road that could result in accidents.
Make sure that your drivers understand how important this is, and the need to highlight to you if a regularly scheduled maintenance check has been missed. If you are using some kind of telematics system or central fleet management system, these checks should be logged and highlighted to make sure no maintenance is missed.
It is also important to encourage your drivers to carry out some daily vehicle checks before they drive. Checking the tires, oil, fuel, and lights will help to make sure that the main areas that are the most likely to cause problems are in good working order. As well as making these kinds of checks the responsibility of the driver, it is also important to take some responsibility yourself and carry out some regular spot checks to make sure these steps are being taken.
Clear Mobile Usage Policy
One of the most common distractions when driving is using a mobile device, like a phone. Studies have shown that the use of a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of being in a crash to the same level as driving while under the influence of alcohol. Anything that pulls your eyes off the road will double your chances of being involved in an accident.
Many suppliers now offer technology that can combat this kind of distracted driving, such as tools that can decrease the likelihood of accidents, limit your company liability, and even help to lower the insurance premiums for your fleet.
You should have a zero-tolerance anti-distracted driving policy. Put this policy in writing and communicate it regularly with your drivers. Even hands-free solutions can still be a distraction, so consider fitting your vehicles with systems that lock devices while the vehicle is in motion. Clearly highlight in your anti-distracted driving policy how you will contact drivers who are out in the field, which could include an alert that instructs them to pull over when convenient and call into the office.
Effective Route Planning
If you can make sure that your drivers have enough time available to them to complete their journeys, this can limit the chances of them deciding to take risks to save time, as well as make your business more efficient. Invest in some vehicle tracking or GPS systems for your fleet which can help your drivers to avoid potential delays or dangerous routes.
Fleet Safety Kits
Provide each of your drivers with a fleet safety kit. These safety kits can be inexpensive and relatively easy to put together for each of your drivers. They should include items such as spare tires, a screwdriver, a wrench, pliers, road flares, reflective triangles, and some basic first-aid supplies.
With these supplies in the vehicle, you can make sure your drivers are prepared in the case of an accident or an emergency. They can also keep drivers safe in the event of the vehicle breaking down. Don’t forget to train your drivers on how to use all the items correctly and safely.
Alcohol and Drug Testing
You probably hope your drivers wouldn’t put themselves and others at risk by driving under the influence, but there are unfortunately a lot of cases where this happens. It’s important to screen any potential drivers for any previous history of driving under the influence. It’s also best practice to implement regular spot checks through random alcohol and drug testing to show how seriously your company takes this. Make your drivers aware that alcohol and drug use will not be tolerated, and that they could be tested at any time.
Regular Driving Training
Bad habits like hard acceleration, idling, inconsistent speeds, tailgating, and hard braking can all make accidents more likely and cause wear to your vehicles. You can correct these bad habits through driver training and education. Even once the training has taken place, bad habits can soon creep back in, so it is a wise idea to consistently provide training to keep skills brushed up and ensure the safety of your drivers.
Driver training can have other benefits too. Better driving can reduce fuel costs, and defensive drivers are less likely to be involved in a collision. You will also save money on maintenance and repair.
Competitions and Incentives For Good Behavior
You can offer driver incentives as part of a larger safety and performance policy to encourage better driving performance and reduce the risk of accidents. Competitions can motivate people to make continuous efforts to improve their performance, reduce accidents, and minimize environmental damage while also having some fun. Reward drivers who consistently perform well over a period to encourage a long-term culture of safe driving.
Preparation
All the procedures and policies in the world cannot always prevent the fact that accidents happen. Have a clear accident procedure in place and make sure your drivers know it well to reduce the severity of accidents that occur, keep drivers safe during the immediate aftermath, and mitigate any potential damage to vehicles.