Safer roads mean shorter lead times for fleet operations. Couriers, food deliveries, and public transportation will significantly benefit from them, too. Simply put, road conditions have an impact on almost every industry.
For that reason, road infrastructure is just as crucial as fleet practices. You can implement every strong safety measure there is, but if a major road issue, which is something out of your control, affects your operations, then you’d still end up losing money.
Roads are the government’s responsibility, but that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to it as the private sector. By offering the right tools, you can collaborate with the government to make roads safer.
Below are the ways to do just that:
1. Implement a Road Safety Policy
The change should begin in your organization. Without a road safety policy in place, you won’t be credible enough to partner with the government.
As someone in fleet operations, you may think this is a no-brainer, but it turns out that not all fleet businesses have a road safety policy. In the U.K., TomTom Telematics found that 20% of companies are putting the lives of their employees and businesses at risk. It is because of the absence of such a policy.
Employment-related road accidents are a regular occurrence. Over 100 people who drive on the job die or get seriously injured every week. Considering that, it’s unwise to assume that professional drivers automatically know how to stay safe on the road. Without a road safety policy, they can easily lose the motivation to do their jobs with caution.
Collisions will hurt your finances because of compensations and lawsuits. Moreover, it can thwart productivity levels in your company; 78% of the firms surveyed by TomTom reported significant drops in productivity due to injured staff.
2. Support Laws and Enforcements That Improve Road Safety
Before offering a product or service, support the existing laws about road safety. In your social media and website, promote the dangers of drunk driving and being distracted behind the wheel. Apply the rules to your fleet drivers; let them be subject to breath testing, alcohol ignition interlocks, and sobriety checkpoints if needed.
3. Advocate for Action
Road crashes are the leading cause of work-related deaths in the United States. It generates a cost of $518 billion per year. As such, it is essential to raise your concerns to the government.
You can invest in demonstration projects that help increase road safety. If your company offers road safety products, such as road line painting equipment or others, you may be able to propose a deal with your local or national government to have your products used in improving the roads.
4. Donate Data
Collect data on road-related topics, such as statistics on drunk driving, overspeeding, insurance claims, texting while driving, and more. Donate your data to the government agency in charge so that they can relay them to road safety planners.
5. Educate Your Employees and Consumers
No matter the industry you’re in, it is essential to educate your employees and consumers on safe road usage. Pedestrians and drivers alike will benefit from knowing how to avoid dangers on the road.
The following policies should be implemented:
- Prohibition of driving under the influence
- Banning of phones while driving
- Outlining defensive driving techniques
- Teaching the importance of self-care while driving
- Vehicle maintenance guidelines
Road safety is crucial for all industries, not just in the fleet. By initiating the promotion of safe driving and safe roads, you can influence many other companies to follow suit, until all businesses have a road safety policy in place.
