Issue 146 - April 2024
NEWS: WORTHY
Help Employees Stay Focused and Safe While Driving This April and Year-Round
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) recognize April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. However, distracted driving warrants attention throughout the year from all members to ensure the safety of employees and the public.
In March, the NHTSA released important data:
• In 2022, more than 3,300 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers.
• An additional 289,000 people were injured in these crashes.
• It’s estimated that 373,000 drivers were talking on their phones while driving at any given moment in 2021.
For many of your employees, driving could pose one of the most significant risks on the job. Help them minimize the risk to themselves and others. Participate in promoting safe driving at work by observing National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April and taking safety actions year-round.
The Road to Zero
Launched in 2016 as a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NSC, the Road to Zero Coalition aims to end fatalities on our nation’s roads by 2050. In 2018, the Coalition released a comprehensive report outlining strategies to end roadway deaths. To make the vision a reality, the report outlined a plan to address motor vehicle fatalities through three main initiatives:
- Double down on what works through proven, evidence-based strategies
- Advance life-saving technology in vehicles and infrastructure
- Prioritize safety by adopting a safe systems approach and creating a positive safety culture
The City of San Luis Obispo is a Road to Zero Coalition member. The city is transforming its traditional Traffic Safety Program and Traffic Safety Report into a Vision Zero Action Plan. Their existing Traffic Safety Program has been highly effective at reducing total collisions, with over a 60 percent reduction in citywide collision totals over the past 20 years. However, the Program has been less effective at reducing the most impactful collisions—those that result in severe injury or loss of life. Citywide severe injury and fatal collision rates have generally remained steady over time, with the rate of traffic fatalities increasing over the past several years, which tracks with overarching trends throughout the country.
A Vision Zero Action Plan shifts focus from a reactive approach centered on reducing all collisions to a more proactive “safe systems” approach focusing on preventing deaths and severe injuries through data-driven, proactive transportation system design strategies.
“The City of San Luis Obispo is a proud Road to Zero Coalition member. It is inspiring to participate in a larger alliance of partners and organizations focused on the common goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths on our public roadways,” said Transportation Manager Luke Schwartz, PE. “Via newsletters, webinars, educational and technical training resources, the Road to Zero Coalition provides valuable tools to help guide agencies like San Luis Obispo in advancing our traffic safety goals.”
Resources
Members are advised to assess their vehicle use policies to ensure they are up to date, effective, and being followed. You are also encouraged to review the driving policies with staff. The Authority encourages supervisors to initiate a brief safety review on distracted driving with employees whose responsibilities include driving.
The Authority has a variety of resources that pertain to driving in the resource library:
- Vehicle Use Policy template
- Vehicle use documents
- Vehicle inspection checklist
In addition, the policy template provides procedures for using agency-owned and privately-owned vehicles operated during agency business. Vehicle use documents include witness and information exchange cards, driver’s reports of accidents/incidents, and vehicle cards that establish proof of liability coverage for agency-owned vehicles.
Embark Safety is a member resource for motor vehicle report monitoring to enhance public safety, confirm valid licenses, identify problematic driving behaviors, and reduce liability. Embark’s platform offers round-the-clock web-based access to DMV driver records, real-time motor vehicle record (MVR) alerts, color-coded drivers for efficient record evaluation, violation decoding, driver management, and pre-employment MVR screenings. This program is funded through pooled costs, eliminating direct out-of-pocket expenses for members. If your agency is interested in the Embark program, contact your regional risk manager.
Training
The California JPIA offers an instructor-led Driver Safety course and eLearning refresher training on safe driving and safe driving of commercial vehicles. For more information, contact the training division.