Accidents fleet safety program

Description The great majority of preventable accidents can be shown to be directly related to the performance of the driver. It is therefore extremely productive to any fleet safety program to have careful new driver selection and adequate monitoring procedures for existing drivers. 

Fleet safety is often viewed as operator safety, which is definitely a key component of a company s attempt to protect its large dollar investment in vehicles and mobile equipment. It goes without saying that many of the accidents that occur are a direct result of driver error. But driver error is not the fault of the individual. It is the fault of management s failure to institute a fleet safety program that provides organization, direction, and accountability for the fleet of vehicles that the company owns. 

Commitment to a fleet safety program communicates the value that the company places on their property and employees. The care given to both vehicles/equipment and employees conveys the company s true view of the value of accident prevention. 

Thus, in a fleet safety program, it is important to select the best operators for the job. The operator is vital to the prevention of accidents, incidents, vehicle damage. 

Operators shonld be observed and evalnated on a periodic basis, retrained if necessary, and supervised more closely. If you are sure that your vehicles are in proper and safe operating condition, yonr operators then become the key to your fleet safety program. Good, conscientious operators can prevent accidents from occurring they are the focus of your fleet safety program. 

The manual should describe the fleet safety program. It should set out the carrier s standards for safe driving. Procedures for reviewing and classifying accidents, established by the company, should be included. It should also explain the company s disciplinary procedures. 

PMPs are another example of an accident prevention technique. Of course, this technique would apply only if your company has equipment, machinery, or vehicles. A PMP is also an integral part of a fleet safety program. 

Management experiences large numbers of repairs to the vehicles in its fleet. This should be viewed as an indication of inadequate maintenance and inspection procedures, and an indication of potential unsafe vehicles, which could facilitate or cause accidents. The scheduling of periodic inspections and maintenance activities should be part of management s fleet safety program. Management should maintain a record on each vehicle regarding repairs, inspections, and maintenance. 

Thus, in a fleet safety program, it is important to select the best operators for the job. The operator is vital to the prevention of accidents, incidents, vehicle damage, and injuries. Careful selection of the operator is paramount to an effective fleet safety program. The selection process should involve access to the operator s past employment history, driving record (including accidents), accommodations, or awards, as well as previous experience, if any, on your type of equipment. 

A fleet safety program must have clear policies and procedures to prevent accidents and ensure employee safety. All employees should have their own roles specified in the safety program. Systematic accident reporting should be in place to prevent reoccurrence. All employees should be trained to follow safe working procedures and practices. 

In a small fleet organization, a vehicle operator is just as responsible for controlling and preventing accidents as the manager of a large fleet. Vehicle accidents can be especially detrimental to a small fleet because they can be costly. In an effort to prevent accidents, small fleet managers must implement each part of a successful motor fleet safety program. 

Recording accidents, injuries, and fleet safety program results... 

Driver selection is a critical component of the motor fleet safety program. The company wants to make sure that it obtains qualified and safety conscious drivers. A good driver must be able to avoid accidents, follow traffic regulations, perform pre- and posttrip inspections, avoid abrupt starts and stops, avoid schedule delays, avoid irritating the public, perform the nondriving parts of the job, get along with others, and adapt to meet existing conditions. 

Given the high cost of fleet accidents and injuries, no motor carrier operation can afford to view its safety program as optional. A proactive safety program is a vital component of any motor carrier operation. Keep the following four safety ROI points in mind ... 

The loss of human life is the most serious implication of an accident from a motor vehicle in a company s motor fleet. Injury and property loss are also motivating factors for ensuring an effective safety program. According to the Motor Fleet Safety Manual, the supervisor must be able to identify substandard performance that leads to accidents by doing the following ... 

A motor fleet employee safety program starts with accident prevention. Each employee and every member of management should keep the following in mind ... 

Why should the organization of fleet and motor vehicle accident data be an essential and necessary part of your motor transportation safety program The reason is simple accident prevention. Each year thousands of drivers are killed or injured in motor fleet crashes that could have been prevented in one way or another. These accidents affect not only the drivers but each of us as well. Whether you are driving a company car on a business trip, driving a truck that is part of a fleet, or sending a child to school on a school bus, you are involved in motor fleet safety. 

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