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. Vehicles are overloaded
2. 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. Workers Compensation claims

3. General Liability claims

4. Damage to transported materials and equipment

5. 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