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Since the beginning of 2022, the Risk Pool has seen a surge in bus accident claims, including buses being rear-ended, and buses hitting pedestrians, parked cars, stationery objects, and a bicyclist. To reduce accidents and injuries, please share the following driving tips with your employees.
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- Stay Focused – Distracted driving is a factor in 25 to 30 percent of all traffic crashes. With hectic schedules and roadway delays, many employees feel pressured to multitask just to keep up with their personal and work-related responsibilities. It is critical for employers to stress that when employees are driving for work, safe driving is their primary responsibility.
- Give driving your full attention. Avoid distractions such as adjusting the radio or other controls, eating, or drinking and talking on a cell phone.
- Continually observe your roadway surroundings to be alert to situations requiring quick action.
- Take a rest break every two hours. Get out of the vehicle to stretch, take a walk, and get refreshed.
- Be Well-Rested – Drowsiness makes drivers less attentive, slows reaction time and affects a driver’s ability to make decisions. It is more important than ever for employees to be well-rested, alert, and sober so that they can focus on driving safely and defensively – especially when others do not.
- Avoid Aggressive Driving – It is easy to become stressed when driving, particularly during morning or evening commutes. Aggressive driving includes excessive speed, tailgating, failure to signal a lane change, running a red light and passing on the right.
- Correct your own unsafe driving habits that are likely to endanger, antagonize or provoke other drivers.
- Keep your cool in traffic; be patient and courteous to other drivers and do not take their actions personally.
- Reduce your stress on the road by allowing plenty of time to reach your destination and plan your route in advance. If despite all of your planning, you are going to arrive late, accept it and avoid aggressive driving.
- Make every effort to safely move out of an aggressive driver’s way.
- If a hostile motorist tries to pick a fight, do not make eye contact, and do not respond. Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
- Never Drive After Consuming Alcohol or Drugs – Alcohol, certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and illegal drugs can all affect a person’s ability to drive safely due to decreased alertness, concentration, coordination, and reaction time.
- Be Prepared for Emergencies – The only thing harder than planning for an emergency is explaining why you did not. The following are a few items to have so that you are better prepared to handle an emergency.
- Keep an updated roster of passengers and be aware of special medical conditions of any students.
- Make sure that you have a way of communicating with the school district. You may need to have emergency contact numbers for district administration, transportation supervisor and emergency personnel.
- Think about your response to various emergencies or situations that may arise.
- Carry a copy of your district’s emergency procedures and insurance identification card.
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