Last year, there were more than 40,000 people killed as a result of motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Safety Council. While drunk driving remains the biggest killer of drivers, distracted driving quickly gaining momentum as one of the leading causes for injuries and death related to vehicle accidents.
Every company is affected by vehicle accidents. Millions of people drive as part of their jobs. But an even larger number of employees drive to and from their workplaces.
Vehicle Accident Costs
Every year, companies spend millions on training their drivers to operate their vehicle safely. But most spend next to nothing on workers whose jobs don’t involve driving. But if they are involved in an accident while they are not at work, it can still cost companies money. in terms of lost productivity, higher health insurance premiums, or the cost of hiring and retraining replacements.
Off-the-job crashes account for about 80% of employer crash-related expenses. And half of crash-related injuries cause employees to miss work. In fact, the average cost of a vehicle crash was more than $1 million per fatality and more than $78,000 per non-fatal disabling injury.
Employer costs include lost productivity, decreases in employee health and well-being, and increased health insurance premiums.
Reducing Risks
Yet there are steps companies can take right now to reduce their risk of vehicle accidents for both their employees who drive for the business and those who drive outside of work:
- Risk Assessment — Identify the risks workers face while driving then take action to address those risks, including implementing measures to track progress.
- Defensive Driving Courses — Offer specific training in defensive driving to reduce the risk your driver face everyday.
- Address Addiction — Offer programs for workers who struggle with alcohol, prescription drug, or illegal drug problems.
- Restrict Smartphone Use — Create a company-wide policy banning the use of smartphones while driving.
- Seat Belt Use — Require all employees to wear seat belts anytime they are in a vehicle, whether it is their own or company-owned.
- Get Expert Help — The National Safety Council can assess your business’s road safety systems and help you to design an implement a more effective, results-driven program company-wide.
- Journey to Safety Excellence — The NSC also offers a program that boosts safety in the workplace. You can sign up for the Journey to Safety Excellence program here.
Vehicle accidents are inevitable. But you can reduce the number and severity of vehicle accidents involving your employees both on and off the job by implementing these effective measures company-wide.