One of the most hazardous parts of our jobs is driving to work every day. We often talk about distracted driving when talking about driving safety, but there are so many more aspects to staying safe while on the road.
Inspect your car/ truck before you leave every day.
- Make sure ties are inflated properly, and there is enough tread on your tires for proper traction.
- The vehicle isn’t leaking any fluids.
- After you start the vehicle does it make any strange noises.
- Does your car/ truck need to have the oil changed.
If you find anything wrong with your car / truck especially if it is a company vehicle make sure you report it and get if fixed immediately.
Driving in adverse weather conditions.
- As with any hazard if you can eliminate driving during bad weather this should always be your first choice, but if not, there are several things you can do to improve your safety on the road.
- Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination, this means slow down.
- Always plan for the worst. Make sure you have a blanket and some water in the car if you’re going to be traveling in remote areas during the winter.
- Give other drivers more space on the road than you would on a normal dry sunny day.
- If you’re driving in the fog make sure you only use your low beam head lights, hi beams will only make it more difficult to see.
The four basic principles:
- Seeing and being seen– Even though you may think that you’re in plain sight of everyone else on the road assume they can’t see you, this means always using your turn signals and braking in a timely manner so that someone behind or beside you have enough time to react.
- Having heightened awareness– Constantly scan your surroundings and checking your mirrors, always be on the lookout for potential hazards in front of you, this could be for road debris, accidents, and anything that could potentially become a problem.
- Managing your speed and space– Have a good safety cushion around your vehicle at all times so you have time to respond to hazards. Always obey posted speed limits, unless traffic or weather conditions demand that you drive slower than what’s posted. Understand how much stopping distance you’ll need based on conditions. If you are being followed too closely, get in the right lane and allow tailgaters to get past you.
- Having the right attitude– Attitude is everything when you drive. You can’t avoid sharing the road with motorists no matter how badly you think their driving may be, and remember they may be thinking the same thing. However, if you have the right attitude about it, and follow safe driving rules yourself, at least you can control the situation.