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Reducing Work-Related Motor Vehicle Incidents

By October 2, 2018December 16th, 2022Safety

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for people everywhere, and the workplace is no exception. According to the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes:

  • Every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash
  • Every 10 seconds an injury occurs
  • Every 5 seconds a crash occurs

Many of these incidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work. Employers bear the cost for injuries that occur both on and off the job. Whether you manage a fleet of vehicles, oversee a mobile sales force or simply employ commuters, by implementing a driver safety program in the workplace you can greatly reduce the risks faced by your employees and their families while protecting your company’s bottom line.

The document referenced above, a joint effort by NETS, NHTSA and OSHA to reduce motor vehicle-related deaths and injuries in the nation’s workforce, is filled with excellent information to help business leaders reduce workplace vehicle incidents. The document outlines setting up a safe driving program for employees, calculating costs of motor vehicle crashes, success stories, aggressive driving and a 10-step program to minimize crash risk.

Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. They drive up the cost of benefits such as workers’ compensation, Social Security, and private health and disability insurance. In addition, they increase the company overhead involved in administering these programs.

On an individual basis, the average crash costs an employer $16,500. When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the cost to their employer is $74,000. Costs can exceed $500,000 when a fatality is involved. Off-the-job crashes are costly to employers as well.1

At the end of the day, employees are an employer’s most valuable assets. Workplace driver safety programs and policies, as well as educational efforts to increase driving safety on the job and off, not only make good business sense but are also a good employee relations tool, demonstrating that employers care about their employees.

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