by Jerry Mooney
The fact is that commercial vehicles now account for a small but growing number of road accidents each year. The main cause of these accidents is user error, either a mistake by the driver or by another driver on the road. That’s why, as a business owner, if you have your own fleet of business vehicles, it is crucial that you take driver safety seriously. Managing a fleet of commercial vehicles and keeping your drivers safe while on the roads isn’t always easy, but it is doable if you choose to take a few smart steps.
With that in mind, below is a guide to some of the most crucial fleet driving safety tips for you to take note of and implement when it comes to how you manage your business fleet.
Never skimp on vehicle maintenance
For business vehicles that will be doing a lot of traveling up and down the country, regularly scheduled maintenance is crucial. Not only does the safety of your drivers rely on this, but also your vehicle’s insurance policies. You see, when it comes to how you take care of commercial vehicles, the regulations are much more stringent. If you want to ensure that your insurance policy does not get canceled, it is vital that each of your commercial vehicles undergoes regular maintenance work. Having your vehicles checked regularly for any problems can be a useful way to help minimize the number of accidents your drivers have while on the roads.
Offer assistance and support
If a driver feels anxious being out on the road, offer them the support and guidance that they need. As an employer, it’s your job to take care of your employees’ health and wellness, so if there is an issue with any of your drivers, you need to deal with it. Say, for instance, a driver is involved in a serious road traffic accident while on the road working, it is crucial that you offer them all the support that they need. From helping them to find the best car accident lawyers to covering the cost of counseling sessions for them, it is vital that you always go above and beyond when it comes to taking care of your team members and their health.
Reward your drivers
To encourage your drivers to take safer driving more seriously, implement a reward system. Use competitions to promote safer driving among your team members. You can also choose to fit software to each of your commercial vehicles that measures how safely your drivers drive. If possible, opt to install software that provides feedback to drivers, telling them ways that they can drive more safely. You can use this software to determine which of your drivers is the safest driver. You can run competitions for safe driving, to encourage your drivers to be safer when out and about on the roads.
Managing a fleet of commercial vehicles is no easy task. However, by taking note of the tips and advice above, you can make the process of keeping your drivers safe and preventing accidents, that little bit easier.
