{"id":26449,"date":"2020-04-27T11:08:28","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T15:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/?p=26449"},"modified":"2024-12-02T23:00:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-03T04:00:25","slug":"strategy-to-reduce-fleet-collisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/strategy-to-reduce-fleet-collisions\/","title":{"rendered":"A Strategy To Reduce Fleet Collisions"},"content":{"rendered":"

When businesses require a fleet of vehicles to move their products from one location to another, it\u2019s critical that they are focusing on promoting safety while on the road. When they are not doing this, sometimes drivers can accidentally drive in dangerous ways. Putting everyone on the road around them at risk. With technology improving to boost safety and reduce fleet collisions<\/a>, managers and business operators must use it to their advantage.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Where The Concern Comes From\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Any vehicle accident is concerning. However, when a commercial motor vehicle is involved, sometimes the outcome of the incident can be much worse. As the size of the vehicles and the cargo carried are factors into making the collision worse for all parties involved, it sheds light on why commercial trucking is considered to be in the top 10 most <\/span>deadliest jobs<\/span><\/a>. In fact, in 2017, <\/span>FMCSA<\/span><\/a> reported that there were approximately 450,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the most common fatal accidents being transportation incidents, managers and drivers themselves can\u2019t be forgoing certain precautions to reduce the risk of collisions and accidents. Below we list various ways fleet employees at every level can do their part to reduce fleet collisions. These tips must remain top of mind as by 2030, it is <\/span>predicted<\/span><\/a> that road crashes will be the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Commitment From Management\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Firstly, in order to reduce fleet collisions, there must be a specific level of commitment from management in regards to maintaining safety. This means that management must continually put the right enforcement in place. This can vary from strict policy to the adoption of new technological solutions, and everything in-between – all of which we touch upon later in this article.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Managers Can Reduce Fleet Collisions In Their Fleet<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Enforcing Strict Policy<\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Strict policy enforcement by management is critical to lowering the risk of collisions in fleets. As fleet drivers represent a business, they must act responsibly and abide by company policy at all times. This includes when commercial vehicle drivers are behind the wheel of a company vehicle as they travel to a new work site or when they are delivering cargo. Such policies should look to reduce any risky behaviour like; distracted driving, driving under the influence (regardless of if the substance is legal), driving tired, or even driving over the set hours-of-service (HOS<\/a>) in your country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While some of these policies could be hard to enforce and rely largely on trusting your drivers, it\u2019s important to know that there are technological solutions available to help you! When monitoring the behaviour of your drivers, there are innovative <\/span>dash camera solutions<\/span><\/a> available that use facial recognition to watch facial movements as well as the vehicle movement on the road. So when a driver appears to be distracted, under the influence (swaying over the line), or even tired, managers can be notified to make contact with the driver to ensure they are okay to drive. As well, many ELD and GPS tracking tools like the <\/span>GO9 device<\/span><\/a> are designed to track not only driver movement, but compliance to HOS. So drivers are well aware whether they are compliant.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pre-Trip Inspection And Proper Maintenance\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

In addition to enforcing strict policies, managers must also reiterate the importance of keeping company vehicles in tip-top condition. This includes not only educating drivers on how to perform proper <\/span>pre-trip inspections<\/span><\/a> of vehicles, but scheduling maintenance so all commercial motor vehicle parts are in good condition, are working properly, and are safe to use. Doing this can lower the risk of a collision (that is caused by malfunctioning or broken parts). Such inspections should look at visually checking the engine, checking fluid levels, the wheels, the brakes, and more. A more extensive list about what should be checked can be found <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n