Safety is everyone’s responsibility; and nowhere is this truer than on the road. Even with the best driving conditions, including dry roads, great visibility and longer days, holiday driving also brings more risks.
However, there’s good news. While the American population has been growing since 1975, the actual number of driver fatalities has declined.[1] To help support this encouraging trend during National Safety Month, the National Safety Council and its partners are reminding drivers about the importance of sharing the roads safely.
Staying safe while driving for work
Did you know that approximately 86% of American workers commute to work by car? [2] In addition, there are millions of people who drive or ride in a motor vehicle as part of their profession. So it may come as no surprise that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of work-related deaths in America. In response, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has created a website specifically designed to provide guidance on how truck drivers, high-risk workers and every individual who drives for work can stay safe.
Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel
Whether texting, using in-vehicle technology or simply reaching for a drink, taking your hand off the wheel distracts you from your primary task of driving safely. Since staying alert while driving is one of your best defenses against accidents, NIOSH is encouraging companies and their workers to have a serious dialogue about distracted driving. They’ve created these resources for educating workers about distracted driving at work. Among other things, NIOSH’s guide outlines:
- The main types of distractions
- The role of distractions in motor vehicle crashes
- The importance of preventing distracted driving at work
- How you can help prevent distracted driving at work
[1] http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/overview-of-fatality-facts
[2] https://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2014/acs-32.pdf