Keeping Your Fleet Accident Free - Tips for Public Entities

Here's what your drivers need to keep an eye out for when they head out on the road.

If you’re a fleet manager or in a similar role that has you responsible for supervising drivers for your public entity, you know just how dangerous it is to head out on the road, especially when there’s adverse weather conditions. By implementing these tips, your drivers can help reduce the risk of serious accidents, injury, and death.

Common Risks Drivers Face

No matter what the day brings—rain or shine—your drivers can't let their guard down. There are plenty of hazards on the road that they need to pay attention to.

Here are 4 for you and your team to keep in mind:

1. Potholes

Potholes form when rainwater or snowmelt seeps into small cracks in the road. As temperatures shift and the water continues to freeze, expand, and thaw, the asphalt becomes weaker and more susceptible to damage and collapse under the constant pressure of passing vehicles.

Over time, these potholes get larger and become even more of a safety hazard for the vehicles on the road. Ensure your drivers know how to identify and avoid potholes to help reduce potential damage to the vehicle.

2. Sun Glare

While it is particularly dangerous during the colder months since the sun reflects off the snow, sun glare can happen at any time of year. The most dangerous times of day for this risk are early morning and late afternoon—both of which are during peak commute times.

Wearing polarized sunglasses, ensuring the windshield is clean, and staying stocked up on wiper fluid are all good ways for your drivers to help reduce the risk of an accident caused by sun glare.

3. More Drivers

As the weather gets nicer, more people will want to go out and enjoy the outdoors—including those riding on motorcycles, bicycles, and electric scooters. Your drivers should take an extra moment to look out for these "riders" in their blind spots and maintain a safe distance from them. Ensure your drivers understand how to share the road so that everyone can get to their destination safely.

4. The Great Outdoors

Other vehicles aren’t the only thing your drivers need to be mindful of on the road—they also need to be mindful of who (and what) might try to cross the road. 

Children playing outside could dart into the roads without warning. Seasonal changes bring an increase in wildlife activity, especially in rural areas, which often see animals attempting to cross and getting struck by unsuspecting vehicles. Drivers must always be aware of their surroundings and maintain a safe speed so that they can come to a stop and avoid an accident.

Drivers should also be aware of weather conditions that could affect the roads and visibility. Powerful rainstorms and flooding can make the roads slick and prevent drivers from seeing changing traffic patterns ahead of them and strong winds can push debris onto the road. If possible, drivers shouldn’t be out on the road during inclement weather, but if they are, they should pay careful attention to the conditions of the road.

More Quick Tips

These are only a few of the potential risks that drivers face when they head out on the road—actively working to ensure you and your drivers are aware of any risk they many face can help avoid preventable accidents. While it's very important to remember these common risks, here are a few quick tips to keep in mind: 

• Provide your drivers with regular training and periodic fleet safety discussions.

• Preventative maintenance is important throughout the year—not just in the winter. Most drivers only think of performing preventative maintenance in preparation of the colder weather, but in the warmer months, it's equally important to assure proper tread depth to reduce hydroplaning and replace wipers to improve visibility.

• Remind your drivers about "Move Over Laws", which requires drivers to pull over or switch lanes and reduce their speed to allow all vehicles with flashing or hazard lights—law enforcement vehicles, EMS vehicles, fire apparatuses, highway maintenance/construction vehicles, and towing vehicles—to get to their destinations or operate safely.  

To help you stay safe on the road, browse our Auto Safety Guide, which provides insights into what risks to look out for, tips for how to avoid them, and what to do if an accident occurs.