Make an Impact With Your Roadway Safety Training

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for people of all ages, both in their personal time and at work. And last year was particularly fatal. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, last year nearly 43,000 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) died in motor vehicle traffic crashes – up 10% from the year prior. This is the highest fatality rate observed in more than 16 years.

As part of Skillsoft’s approach to transportation training, we offer safe driving courses through our compliance solution  Our training is designed to help organizations meet the three goals in motor vehicle safety as outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which are:

• To save lives and to reduce the risk of life-altering injuries within your workforce
• To guard against potential company and personal liabilities
• And to protect your organization’s human and financial resources

 In honor of National Safety Month, this week we’re focusing on roadway safety, so let’s talk about some strategies that companies can adopt to reduce driving risk and keep their employees safe on the road.

Data shows that more than 90% of risk factors behind roadway collisions can be categorized into the following four groups:

• Excessive speed
• Human impairment
• Distracted driving
• Fatigue

The benefits of an effective driver safety training program can have a massive impact on the workforce, including:

• Preservation of human lives. The primary importance of road safety is to prevent the loss of life. Adhering to road safety measures significantly reduces the risk of fatal accidents.
• Prevention of injuries. Following traffic rules helps prevent injuries resulting from road accidents, which can cause long-lasting physical and emotional harm to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
• Economic impact. Improved road safety reduces the economic impact that road accidents impose on society due to medical expenses, property damage, legal proceedings, and emergency service costs. 
• More efficient traffic flow. Adherence to traffic rules enhances smooth traffic flow, reducing congestion and commute times, leading to increased overall efficiency in transportation systems.
• Property protection. Road safety measures contribute to the protection of public and private property by preventing collisions and property damage.
• Lower insurance costs. Improved road safety can lead to lower insurance premiums as the number of accidents decreases.
• Emergency response efficiency. Following road safety guidelines ensures that emergency response teams can reach accident scenes quickly, potentially saving lives and reducing injury severity.
• Environmental impact. Responsible driving habits promoted by road safety measures contribute to lower fuel consumption and emissions, mitigating the environmental impact of transportation.
• Public health. Reduced accidents mean fewer hospitalizations and less strain on healthcare systems, allowing resources to be allocated more effectively.
• Quality of life. Safe roads contribute to an improved quality of life for individuals and communities by promoting a sense of well-being and confidence in the transportation infrastructure

It’s clear that the benefit of implementing roadway safety training within your organization is high. But, don’t just take our word for it. Take a moment to quantify when and where driving is required within your business so you can start to measure the success of a roadway safety training program. 

Measurement is key in any roadway safety training program. Not sure where to start? Every organization is different, but here are some ways that we’ve seen organizations assess their roadway safety:

• Data analysis. Analyze crash data, such as frequency, severity, location, and contributing factors, to identify high-risk areas and trends. 
• Network screening. Systematically screen the roadway network to rank and prioritize sites based on performance measures like crash frequency, fatal crash frequency, or equivalent property damage only (ePDO) severity.
• Road safety audits. Conduct formal examinations of existing or future roadway locations by an independent, multidisciplinary team to identify potential safety issues and countermeasures.
• Engineering countermeasures. Implementing engineering solutions such as Complete Streets initiatives, lighting enhancements, video analytics, and infrastructure improvements to address identified safety concerns.
• Policy and regulation. Develop and enforce policies, regulations, and guidelines to promote roadway safety, such as work zone safety standards, speed management, and geometric design guidelines.
• Performance monitoring. Establish safety performance targets and regularly monitor progress through performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented strategies and make data-driven adjustments.

Don’t forget to talk to your drivers to get firsthand feedback from them. Once you recognize the challenges they face and truly listen to their experiences on the road, you can begin to make progress in creating a training solution that works for everyone.

Some of the courses that Skillsoft offers as part of its transportation and safe driving channel include: 

• Collision Avoidance
• Defensive Driving
• Distracted Driving
• Emergency Situations While Driving
• Hazardous Weather Driving for Commercial Vehicle Operators
• Urban Driving
• ...and more!

How many times have we heard that “what gets measured gets managed?” Once you have some assessment tools in place and can measure your roadway safety outcomes, you will be able to implement the systems and controls necessary to take action.

Regular training is the absolute best way to manage your organization’s roadway safety outcomes. Consider implementing an effective roadway safety training program by following these steps:

1. Conduct a Needs Assessment: Analyze the data collected from safety assessments, incident reports, and employee feedback to identify specific areas where training is needed. This could include topics like work zone safety, defensive driving, traffic control procedures, or emergency response protocols.
2. Develop Customized Training Curricula: Based on the identified needs, design comprehensive training curricula tailored to the organization’s specific operations, equipment, and safety challenges. Incorporate best practices, regulatory requirements, and lessons learned from past incidents.
3. Utilize Multiple Training Formats: Employ a variety of training methods to cater to different learning styles and ensure effective knowledge transfer. These can include classroom sessions, hands-on practical exercises, online modules, simulations, and on-the-job mentoring.
4. Engage Subject Matter Experts: Collaborate with experienced professionals, safety consultants, and industry experts to develop and deliver high-quality training content. Their expertise can provide valuable insights and real-world examples.
5. Establish Training Requirements: Implement mandatory training requirements for all employees involved in roadway operations, including new hires, experienced workers, and supervisors. Ensure compliance through regular refresher training and certifications.
6. Foster a Culture of Safety: Integrate roadway safety training into the organization's overall safety culture. Encourage open communication, promote employee involvement, and recognize individuals who demonstrate exemplary safety practices.
7. Evaluate and Refine: Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the training programs through participant feedback, knowledge assessments, and incident data analysis. Use this information to refine and update the training content and delivery methods.

By implementing a structured and comprehensive roadway safety training program, organizations can equip their employees with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to mitigate risks, prevent incidents, and foster a culture of safety on roadways.

Stay tuned for the next blog in this National Safety Month series on Monday, June 17.