Causes and Solutions of Fleet Safety Accidents

Topics of Discussion

Vehicle Accidents Statistics Costs of Accidents Recommendations

Vehicle Accidents

Overloaded Vehicles Rear End Collisions Distracted Driving

Overloaded Vehicle

A worker was fatally injured when the truck he was operating rolled backward. The trailer's brakes failed. The vehicle was loaded greatly over design weight. A worker was fatally injured due to injuries suffered in the crash of a truck. The truck was overloaded and the brakes failed.
source: OSHA accident reports www.osha.gov

Rear End Collisions

Second-most frequent accident Makes up 17% of all claims Over $13,000 per claim
source: Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

Distracted Driving

A driver was on his phone while driving. He did not notice the stop sign he was approaching. As he went through the stop sign, a motorist driving by slammed into the truck and was killed. Three employees were riding on a steep temporary road. One of the passengers asked the driver if he was on 4 "low. He looked down to check. The moment he took his eyes off the road, the truck rolled off the side of the road and overturned. The employee closest to the passenger door was killed.
sources: Risk Control Services, CNA OSHA accident reports (www.osha.gov)

Accident Summary

Rear End Collisions are more likely when

1. 2.

Vehicles are overloaded Workers follow vehicles in front of them too closely.

Distractions increase the likelihood of getting in an accident.

Accident Summary

(continued)

Distractions include:

Reaching/looking for items in the car Things, events outside of the car/rubbernecking Cell phones Adjusting the radio Eating Grooming Children and pets

Statistics

Distracted Driving Rear End Collision

Distracted Driving

Inattention to driving: #1 cause of accidents in America Drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a motor vehicle collision.
Sources: Risk Control Services, CNA New England Journal of Medicine, February 13, 1997

Rear End Collisions

Account for one-sixth of all automobile claims Account for 38% of the dollars paid for all automobile claims

Sources: Risk Management News, Vol. 1, Issue 2 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Graph: Continental Casualty Company

Summary of Statistics

Distracted driving causes more accidents than any other factor. Rear end collisions are the single most common accident type.

Costs of Accidents

Costs of Accidents
Vehicle accidents cost more than just the price of repairing the damaged vehicle:
1.

Claims for damages to vehicles and property, injuries to motorists and passengers

2.
3.

Workers Compensation claims

General Liability claims

4.
5.

Damage to transported materials and equipment

Negligent Entrustment lawsuits and punitive damages

Recommendations

What Employees Should Do What Employers Should Do

What Employees Should Do

Stay at or under the speed limit, especially in construction zones. Leave a long following distance between you and the car in front of you, especially if there are heavy materials in the vehicle. There should be ample time to apply the brakes and come to a complete stop. Do not drive while fatigued or intoxicated, and dont engage in distracting activities, such as using a cell phone.

Use safety belts. Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle to the number of safety belts available
Participate in your companys vehicle training program.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health www.cdc.gov/niosh/

What Employers Should Do

Conduct drivers license background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired. Establish a written policy requiring drivers and passengers to use seat belts at all times. Make sure that employees are aware of and comply with this written policy. Train drivers in safe driving practices and proper use of vehicle safety features. Make sure that this training is performance-based and periodically repeated. Maintain brakes and other safety systems on vehicles.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health www.cdc.gov/niosh/

Summary of Recommendations

Employees and Employers working together increase the safety of the work site. Obey the laws of the road to decrease risk of accident and increase safety. Participate in training to increase awareness of vehicle safety.

The End