When you think of safety hazards and employee injuries, you probably focus on what goes on inside your workplace. But one of the greatest threats to employee safety is in the parking lot. Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of accidental death in the United States. They are also the most common cause of workplace deaths, representing about one in four fatal work injuries. Every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, every 10 seconds an injury occurs and every 5 seconds a crash occurs. Many of these accidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work.
What the statistics don't tell you, however,
is that these deaths and injuries are largely preventable, and you're in an ideal position to help prevent them by making sure you understand the risks and take the proper precautions whenever you get behind the wheel. To avoid becoming a statistic, follow these tips for safe driving:
• Your vehicle must be in good mechanical condition before you start out. Do a pre-trip inspection every time before you drive.
• Per company policy, wear your seat belt at all times.
• Most collisions occur at low speeds on short trips. Also make sure headrests are adjusted correctly. These are designed to reduce the possibility of whiplash neck injuries.
• Make sure you are alert and energetic before driving. Fatigue and sleepiness are common causes of traffic accidents.
• Beware of distracting activities such as talking on the radio or reading your clip board.
• Observe speed limits. Excessive speed causes many collisions, and it contributes to greater injuries and damage when they occur.
• Never get into a conflict with another driver. Let the other vehicle pass.
• Maintain enough space between you and the vehicle in front so you can brake in time if it suddenly stops. Allowing space between your vehicle and others can give you an "out" in case you should need to stop suddenly or swerve.
• Never pass in a "no passing" zone—this includes most post roads on military installations. Good driving skills are a matter of life and death.
Practice them every time you get behind the wheel.
What the statistics don't tell you, however,
is that these deaths and injuries are largely preventable, and you're in an ideal position to help prevent them by making sure you understand the risks and take the proper precautions whenever you get behind the wheel. To avoid becoming a statistic, follow these tips for safe driving:• Your vehicle must be in good mechanical condition before you start out. Do a pre-trip inspection every time before you drive.
• Per company policy, wear your seat belt at all times.
• Most collisions occur at low speeds on short trips. Also make sure headrests are adjusted correctly. These are designed to reduce the possibility of whiplash neck injuries.
• Make sure you are alert and energetic before driving. Fatigue and sleepiness are common causes of traffic accidents.
• Beware of distracting activities such as talking on the radio or reading your clip board.
• Observe speed limits. Excessive speed causes many collisions, and it contributes to greater injuries and damage when they occur.
• Never get into a conflict with another driver. Let the other vehicle pass.
• Maintain enough space between you and the vehicle in front so you can brake in time if it suddenly stops. Allowing space between your vehicle and others can give you an "out" in case you should need to stop suddenly or swerve.
• Never pass in a "no passing" zone—this includes most post roads on military installations. Good driving skills are a matter of life and death.
Practice them every time you get behind the wheel.