Don’t Put Your Driving Safety Program on Ice This Winter

[Image courtesy of Jerrico on Pixabay via a Creative Commons license]Winter driving is very dangerous, so it is vital that an entire company has buy-in on the safety program – and even encourages the use of technology to lower the risks of incidents on the roadways.

I certainly hope you consider at least one of these recent posts as your mental 2×4. Don’t worry, it won’t leave a mark – as long as you act upon what has been written. If you don’t, then I hate to say it but the bruise will not be pretty. This is the time of year where there is very little more important than the safety of your fleet drivers and others on the road with your employees. Car accidents are among the most common causes of workplace injuries among those who are doing work-related activities – which means that there are a lot of commercial drivers and those who use personal vehicles for office business. While everyone who drives a corporate or personal vehicle is licensed and has had a clean driving record, employer and supervisor responsibilities do not end there. During the winter, especially, the term “due diligence” takes on new importance, as supervisors and employers cannot just rely on driving-records checks and a driving safety program as serving adequate due diligence.

In that vein, I am putting forth some information gathered from outside sources about understanding what “due diligence” means when it comes to winter driving and the roles that supervisors and executive leaders can take to ensure they meet the “due diligence” standard that can help keep drivers (and others on the road) safe – other than, of course, taking the wheel themselves:

• First, know all of the appropriate local and federal regulations regarding driving safety, and make sure supervisors and executive team members are all briefed and consistently trained. Ignorance is never a defense if something happens.
• Supervisors need to make sure to conduct regular training with employees in regards to safe winter driving, and employers and executives need to ensure that the supervisors are doing that training as directed.
• Before actually doing winter driving, assess risks and hazards not only with the fleet but also with the personal vehicles that are being used for work. Make sure they are properly winterized and have parts and equipment in proper working order. And never, ever, let unauthorized personnel drive any company vehicle. Executives need to ensure that the proper vehicle checks are made and that there is a list of authorized operators. Anyone not on the list should never get behind the wheel.
• Always encourage safe work habits.
• Supervisors should have open communication with drivers. Drivers should express to supervisors any concerns or hazards experienced on the roads, especially as they pertain to routes or safety procedures so adjustments can be made quickly before other drivers encounter similar issues.
• Above much of this, though, there is the glory that is technology. In other words, your safety program for winter driving should include the encouragement of driving being kept to a minimum. Use e-mail, phone, Skype, GoToMeeting, or whatever technology is available to conduct meetings or sales calls as much as possible. Supervisors and executives need to embrace technology at every angle and leave driving to only those very necessary trips that these technologies can’t possibly address.
• If a trip is necessary, make sure thre is an itinerary and a plan for the trip. The driver should reveal his or her expected route, destination and time of departure and expected arrival. This trip should also account for road and weather conditions in real-time when necessary, and any alternate routes just in case weather shuts down a road. Contact numbers should be submitted before the trip so the supervisor and/or executive can reach the driver and vice versa.
• Make sure all vehicles used for work have a winter survival kit inside, and ensure that drivers have a cell phone or some form of communication in case they get stranded.
• Have all drivers conduct an inspection before each drive, and have them submit proper documentation of the inspection and what is reported.

Of all the safety protocols and procedures to keep pace with and to have full company buy-in, there is very little more important than any program that deals with vehicles and road and weather conditions. Don’t ever take winter driving for granted. In fact, I encourage everyone to be extra-vigilant … even a hard-ass if that is what it takes.