Every year thousands of drivers and pedestrians die from motor vehicle crashes and more often than not, most of these accidents could have been prevented if the people responsible took the proper precautions and adhered to safe driving rules. Prevention and identification of key risk factors is vital to reducing the number of accidents and ensuring the safety of both passengers and pedestrians. Any business that manages and relies on the use of heavy-duty vehicles, enforcing driver safety and driving rules should be a corporate priority. While you might think that safety when driving on the road is entirely in the hands of the driver, it’s not. The employers will always have to bear any costs and damages caused in accidents, a prospect that would neither be profitable nor reputable. Therefore, here’s how you can ease the financial burden that follows unsafe and unmonitored driving;
Training
Prior to hiring drivers, all businesses should carry out a screening process for all employees, by checking their driving licenses and records. This is so that you can screen out any drivers with bad records as they are most likely to be problematic in the future. Training is essential for both good and bad drivers. Driving a heavy-duty vehicle is quite different from driving a car or van and requires extensive training before a driver can start working. Training exercises should include simulator training and behind the wheel exercises so that they are able to gain ample experience before handling the vehicle on the road. They should also be made aware of all safety guidelines and be trained on how to handle a breakdown or minor repairs of the vehicle.
Vehicle maintenance and inspection
Periodic checks on the vehicle is necessary to ensure that all its components are working properly. Given that heavy-duty vehicles generally travel long distances carrying a heavy load, it is crucial that the vehicle is well taken care of and subjected to regular checks. This way, accidents that could result from damages like faulty brakes and worn-out tyres can be minimized. Another important element of operating heavy-duty vehicles is complying with the legal weight limit, as exceeding it can lead to heavy fines. As overloaded vehicles can be difficult to control, they should always be weighed, and this can be done with portable truck scales, which comes with the added advantage of being able to be moved anywhere with relative ease.
Drivers and their health
The health of drivers is most often an overlooked aspect in organizations that deal with vehicles. Drivers should undergo regular tests for vision and other health conditions as problems such as bad vision can prove to be fatal when on the road. Drivers should also be made aware of the risks of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. They should also make sure to get plenty of sleep before driving to remain alert when behind the wheel. A healthy diet and proper rest will go a long way in maintaining alertness and good health.