{"id":35317,"date":"2022-12-29T09:26:54","date_gmt":"2022-12-29T14:26:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/?p=35317"},"modified":"2024-12-17T07:00:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T12:00:10","slug":"every-fleet-safety-program-should-have-these","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gofleet.com\/every-fleet-safety-program-should-have-these\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Fleet Safety Program Should Have These"},"content":{"rendered":"
A fleet safety<\/a> program isn\u2019t simply a list of rules and regulations that help you maintain road compliance; the right program has policies in place to keep your drivers safe and prevent accidents before they happen.<\/span><\/p>\n Fleet vehicle <\/span>accidents<\/span> are among the most costly for businesses. Without a formal safety program, you may be putting the welfare of your employees and company at risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In this article, we’ll discuss safety policies; how they work, what they look like, and why having a fleet safety program for your business is essential.<\/span><\/p>\n Accident prevention comes down to more than just rules.<\/span><\/p>\n Drivers are human, capable of making mistakes. They may fall victim to scenarios outside of their control, or may not always exercise good judgment themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Safety policies emphasize the importance of making safe decisions – it’s ultimately up to your training program and individual drivers to follow through.<\/span><\/p>\n A fleet safety policy<\/a> is a set of rules and guidelines that address how a company’s vehicles should be operated, and how safety operations should be handled. They create standards that operators must follow to reduce the risk of injury or getting into an accident while on the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fleet safety policies<\/a> come in a lot of forms, but always have one thing in common: definitive\u00a0 rules and expectations that drivers must adhere to, many of which can mean the difference between success and disaster as a business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Below is a breakdown of three key reasons why every fleet should have a safety policy<\/a> in place.<\/span><\/p>\n The most obvious reason for having a safety policy is to promote good practices and reduce the risk of accidents. By providing a clear set of expectations and guidelines, you can ensure that your drivers are aware of what is required in order to operate safely.<\/span><\/p>\n Safety policies hold your drivers accountable for their actions. If an accident does occur, you can refer to the policy to determine if negligence was a factor. This can help you to evaluate your drivers and determine whether further training is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n Having a safety policy in place will reduce your financial liability if an accident occurs. Without one, your company could face serious legal and <\/span>financial repercussions<\/span><\/a> if it is discovered that the accident was preventable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While most policies can – and in many cases, should – differ from one another, they should always cover the following four main areas: journey management, drugs and alcohol, distracted driving, and seatbelts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Journey management refers to the work that goes into supporting transport operations. This includes factors such as scheduling, pre and post-trip vehicle inspections, routes, and emergency procedures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It’s important to have this information outlined in your safety policy, as it will help ensure that all drivers are aware of what is expected and how to handle emergency situations.<\/span><\/p>\n Even though the law requires drug and alcohol testing in many areas, it’s important to have a policy that outlines what is expected of your drivers, and the consequences of not following policy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhy Rules Don’t Guarantee Fleet Safety<\/span><\/h2>\n
What Is a Fleet Safety Policy?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Why Implement a Fleet Safety Policy?<\/span><\/h2>\n
1. Prevention<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Accountability<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Liability<\/span><\/h3>\n
Four Fundamental Elements of a Fleet Safety Policy<\/span><\/h2>\n
Journey Management<\/span><\/h3>\n
Drugs and Alcohol<\/span><\/h3>\n