Companies, understandably, take their safety programs so seriously, and they increasingly rely on dashboard cameras to monitor their drivers and their telematics platforms to send alerts and share their stack-ranked safety scores to keep drivers focused on safety.
But while most safety programs correctly focus on the importance to the company of drivers being safe on the road, the drivers themselves also can face significant consequences if they don’t prioritize safety.
A High Personal Price
Then there is the potential impact on the driver’s career. Depending upon the nature, severity, and number of incidents, whether they are accidents or violations, the driver could be subject to termination, in which case they may have difficulty finding another job. If their safety transgressions are especially serious or numerous, they may not be able to find employment as a driver at all.
Using Driver Risks to Promote Safety
The companies that are the most successful at promoting driver safety understand that safety is as much about fostering an organization-wide safety culture – modeled by everyone from the CEO on down – as it is about the safe behavior of drivers. A comprehensive safety program is a major driver of that culture.
A safety program will encompass multiple activities and initiatives, ranging from training to coaching to tracking and communicating driver safety scores to reinforcing safety during team meetings and safety huddles. These all add up to safety being part of daily conversations and keeping safety front of mind for drivers.
It’s a smart move to regularly remind drivers of their own personal responsibility to be safe and that the unsafe operation of company vehicles can very much impact their lives and livelihood outside of work.