The prerequisites for establishing and sustaining a safety culture differs significantly amongst industries. The logistics industry spans a wide range of activities, including as product sourcing, production, inventory management, handling and sorting, transportation, and storage and warehousing. And all of those require separate types of insurance providers.
Even though the duties that workers perform daily vary considerably, a typical occurrence in many businesses is that employees drive to work.
Although driving conditions, travel duration, and obstacles often vary, the requirement for safe drivers is consistent. A driving safety culture exists only if companies prioritize employee safety behind the wheel.
Having a safety culture in place is essential for any business that employs drivers whether professionally authorized drivers, private drivers, contractors, or even anyone who makes an odd coffee run. The most effective method for mitigating driver risk is establishing a company-wide safety culture that includes all employees, including drivers. Establishing an atmosphere of safety is an activity that is eternally continuing and involves consistent attention, optimization, and enforcement. This is accomplished by promoting a system of safety-related ethics, beliefs, and initiatives your firm believes in.
Establishing a safe driving culture has to begin at the top and be supported and reinforced at all levels for it to succeed. Every business needs to take these few easy steps necessary to develop a driver safety program suited to its particular circumstances.
Top 9 steps to develop a safe driving culture in your company
Follow these steps to create a driver safety program in the workplace.
1. Determine your needs
Determine which workers are driving on business time and how frequently they are driving. Employees who frequently drive for work are counted, from those who make daily sales calls to those who make twice-monthly trips to the office supply store. Identify all workers who drive on company business, regardless of the amount of time or whether they are driving a corporate vehicle or their vehicle.
2. Establish an enterprise-wide driver safety policy
If your drivers want to adopt a safety culture, your policies have to be universal. A complete driver safety policy should contain the following:
- No leniency in the rules for seat belts
- Ensure new and existing drivers understand precisely how your company handles MVR checks
- Required and accessible driver education for your staff
- Procedure for reviewing violations
- Organizational guidelines for personal car usage
- Follow proper parking protocols
Additionally, ensure that the driver safety policy is stated correctly and available to all parties covered, including recruits. Also, ensure clarity in the driver safety policy’s language, regarding its implementation, and to whom is it applicable. Regulations and repercussions for policy violations should be transparent, concise, and consistent.
In addition, rules have to be regularly enforced. No exceptions are made for violations of the driver safety rules. It makes no difference if you drive around the block, are in a hurry, or are the CEO; regulations remain rules. Inconsistent policing often results in hatred and a lukewarm attitude toward safety.
3. Be transparent in your communication
Open communication is essential for maintaining employee satisfaction since organizational buy-in is essential for establishing a safety culture. According to research published in the Harvard Business Review, 70% of employees felt more involved with their company when they were offered frequent updates and were spoken to more freely.
Whichever policies you implement to promote a safety culture, openness, and communication are essential to be effective. Your company’s commitment to safety has to remain at the forefront of employees’ minds. Those who support such programs are often the most potent advocates.
Simple reminders also help staff prioritize safety. Some effective methods to remind workers of the new workplace culture include
- A creative and memorable safety phrase in an email signature
- Quick or subliminal references of security in meetings
- Acknowledgment of exceptional drivers
- Company-wide mailings or newsletters emphasizing safety
4. Create a comprehensive driving policy
Create a policy outlining the expected safe driving behaviors, including
- Wearing seatbelts
- Using mobile phones
- Speed restrictions
- Absence of drugs and alcohol while driving
Adopt disciplinary measures for workers who violate the driving policy, such as verbal or written warnings, suspension, or termination.
5. Establish a seat belt policy
One of the easiest ways to promote a safety culture is through seatbelts. Don’t deviate from this rule. Everyone in a vehicle has to fasten their seatbelts before departure, regardless of the length of the trip. This policy should be highlighted in both commercial and personal cars.
A seat belt policy is a perfect example of personal and corporate accountability, as well as concern for the safety of others. Seat belt rules are a constant reminder that every time a motorist decides to fasten their seat belt, they uphold the company’s safety culture.
6. Prioritize safety while choosing vehicles
Only a few businesses own their cars, but if you do, emphasize safety for drivers, passengers, and communities. Driving safely is a two-way street. It isn’t right to expect safe driving behaviors from your workers if you don’t provide them with safe automobiles that promote safe driving.
Perform routine vehicle inspections and maintenance to ensure all corporate vehicles are routinely maintained and safe. Urge workers to report any vehicle problems to their managers. Installing technologies such as GPS monitoring, telematics, and in-vehicle cameras to monitor driver behavior and discover improvement opportunities.
Lay stress on safety aspects to your staff if you decide to acquire business automobiles. Emphasizing the importance of vehicle safety helps to constantly remind your drivers that safety is a top concern, fostering an environment where safety is valued.
7. Train workers on safe driving techniques
Give staff training and instructional resources, like movies and seminars, to assist them in comprehending the significance of safe driving habits. While many employees require driver training, not all need the same instruction. Find workers who spend much time behind the wheel, such as those who drive to handle air conditioning repairs. Register them in an intensive behind-the-wheel driver safety class. Employees who spend less time driving are often more suitable for e-learning courses. Start with the riskiest (frequent drivers) and move down the list.
8. Reinforce what is taught
Driving safety is more than just a one-and-done endeavor. Complement your work experience with e-learning refresher classes. Also, enroll in an intensive behind-the-wheel refresher training every two years if you are a regular or daily driver. Create a policy requiring frequent drivers to report all traffic offenses within a specific timeframe, regardless of whether they occurred on the job.
9. Acknowledgement and rewards
Reward workers that show safe driving skills and positively influence the workplace’s driving culture. Commemorate milestones and accomplishments to promote continued safe driving.
Drivers know that safety is appreciated, stressed, and rewarded when they witness recognition. This can be done in various ways, such as
- mentions in corporate publications and media releases
- appreciation from executives
- presents
Culture of safe driving and commercial auto insurance
Commercial auto insurance aims to safeguard businesses against financial damages caused by accidents involving corporate vehicles. The premiums for business auto insurance are determined by various criteria, including
- The number of covered vehicles
- The driving records of the personnel who use those vehicles
- The degree of risk posed by the company’s operations
For instance, commercial vehicle insurance offers a particular sort of insurance for refrigerated trucks to cover companies that use refrigerated trucks to deliver temperature-sensitive commodities. This insurance pays for the truck, cargo, and other damaged vehicles or property repairs in an accident. Companies need to have sufficient insurance coverage to safeguard their assets and limit financial risk.
By fostering a safe driving culture, companies minimize the likelihood of accidents and claims, lowering their insurance costs over time. In addition, many insurance companies reward businesses with discounts and other incentives if they implement and maintain successful safety programs and show a dedication to safe driving.
Advantages of a safe driving culture
The financial benefits of fostering a culture of safe driving extend to the business. Workers participating in advanced driving safety training save money on
- insurance claims
- productivity loss
- collision damage
- negative publicity
By improving your employees’ safety, you also enhance the safety of the roadways in your community. Even as automobiles get safer and are equipped with more sophisticated crash-avoidance systems, collisions continue to increase. The numerous demands placed on drivers, such as those of other distracted drivers, exhaustion, and their employment responsibilities, often puts them in danger.
Your drivers’ health and happiness on the road enhances by fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes road safety.
Make it a company policy to encourage safe driving habits
Now that you know how to develop a safety culture, understand why such initiatives are no minor task and need enormous time, effort, and commitment. Make driver safety training a component of sound safety measures. Foster a culture of driving safety, an integral part of your organizational goals as your workforce grows more mobile. If executed correctly, you are bound to reap the rewards.
