While you and your employees may have started out extremely vigilant when you first began driving, you have likely grown relaxed the more you have been around vehicles.
Unfortunately, despite this driving experience, more than 90% of vehicle crashes are still caused by human error, according to the National Safety Council.
Reexamine you and your employees driving techniques and consider implementing company-wide policies to ensure everyone remains safe on the road:
- Put the electronics down—While many believe hands-free devices and dashboard infotainment systems are safer than using your cellphone or other hand-held electronics, research shows these technologies lead to cognitive distraction and inattention blindness.
- Get sleep—7 to 9 hours of sleep can seem impossible to get, but adults need it to remain alert. You are three times more likely to be in a car crash if you are fatigued.
- Use the 4-Second Rule—You likely learned this in driver’s education but may not have thought about it since. Pick a fixed reference point like a sign or utility pole. When the car ahead of you passes this point, start counting. Your vehicle should not pass that point until you have counted to four. This will give you enough time to properly stop. Always add distance if you’re driving a heavier vehicle or if the roads are wet or icy.
- Remain vigilant in the dark—If it is dark out, look to the right side of the road to help limit road glare.
