Vehicle Safety

Crowded roads, distracted drivers, rising medical and repair costs. Now more than ever, car accidents can create a significant disruption to your business. The best way to control your expense is through an effective vehicle risk-management program.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving assumes not everyone on the road is the best driver and accidents can and will happen. We instinctively know this, yet knowing how to avoid a collision that may be caused by someone else is as important as not causing one yourself. The best course of defense is a good offense, and periodically reminding drivers of common sense driving techniques helps elevate awareness and increase the likelihood of knowing how to respond to a surprising situation.

Driving defensively is important because:

Rear-end collisions are the single most frequent accident type. (National Safety Council).
28% of all accidents are rear end collisions - NHTSA
Private passenger vehicles suffer more fatalities than large trucks – not surprising. (IIHS)
94% of rear end collisions happen on straight roads and 75% are travelling less than 10 miles per hour. Every 17 seconds a rear-end collision is reported.

At Westfield, we understand that not all companies are the same—a policy for an electrical contractor may not work for a wholesale distributor. We have the safety resources to help you determine a proper vehicle management program to fit your needs, including best practices like:

Establishing and Maintaining a Driver List

Regardless of how many drivers you employ, it’s important to make sure each has a current driver’s license, medical card (for CDL drivers) and other relevant information stored in a single location.

Evaluating Driving Records

Often referred to as Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs) or Abstracts, these records generally contain three years of information on moving violations. We suggest that you consider establishing written criteria for hiring and managing your company’s drivers, including those who use their own vehicles to conduct business.

Developing and Enforcing a Distracted Driving Policy

Distracted driving includes any activity that diverts attention from driving. These days, the most common source of distraction for drivers is cell phone use, including calling and texting. Others can be as simple as taking your eyes off the road, eating and drinking or allowing your mind to wander. Make sure the members of your fleet know what’s expected of them.

Evaluating Your Exposure to Employees Who Drive their Personal Vehicles for Business

You may have employees who drive their own vehicles for your business, which is often referred to as “non-owned auto” exposure. You could become liable for accidents that exceed their own insurance limits. Consider asking these drivers annually for proof of insurance with minimal liability limits of $300,000.

Reporting Accidents Within 24 Hours

The sooner you report an accident to your insurance company, the sooner your claim representative can get started on your claim. Find out more about reporting a claim here.

Vehicle Safety

Defensive Driving

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