Driver's Ed 101: Training Workers to Drive Safely

Whether their driving your vehicles or their own, you want your employees to be safe on the road and avoid accidents.

Here are four key safe driving issues that should be included in safety meetings and training sessions concerning driving safety.

Collisions

Collisions are common, especially at intersections, where it's estimated one-third of all two-car crashes occur. Use these safety tips when training employees to prevent collisions:

• Head-on—Drivers should keep alert and look down the road for possible problems, like an oncoming driver passing another vehicle.
• Rear-end—To avoid being hit, drivers should signal intentions, slow down gradually, and check mirrors for tailgaters. To avoid rear-ending another vehicle, drivers should maintain a 2- to 4-second distance from the vehicle ahead and watch for brake lights and turn signals.

Passing

When passing, drivers should:

• Pass only in a passing zone
• Check oncoming traffic to make sure no one is coming
• Check mirrors to make sure someone behind you isn't moving out to pass
• Never pass unless they can see enough clear space to do it comfortably

When being passed, drivers should slow down if the other vehicle needs extra room to pass safely.

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Road/Weather Conditions

Drivers should adjust their driving to road and weather conditions. Road construction, traffic, slippery roads, and other hazardous conditions contribute to many accidents. But these accidents can be prevented if drivers take precautions such as:

• Slowing down
• Increasing following distance
• Being prepared to stop
• Turning on headlight to be more visible
• Avoiding distractions and focusing all attention on driving
• Keeping calm in heavy traffic
• Knowing how to handle a skid (take your foot off the break and turn in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go)

DUI

You can't overemphasize the hazards of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to one recent report, 1 in 5 drivers admits to drinking and driving. Every year more than 20,000 people are killed by impaired drivers, and 50,000 are injured.

Drinking impairs all the faculties that prevent traffic accidents:

• Ability to determine distance
• Reactions
• Judgment
• Vision