Keys to Road Safety from US highway administration

By Daniel Bland - April 4, 2023

Twitter @DanielBlandBiz GlobalFleet.com - FleetLatAm.com

The goal of US National highway traffic safety administration NHTSA is to keep drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe by reducing deaths, and injuries from motor vehicle crashes by enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments.

With that said, here are some road safety tips highlighted by the administration which can help keep your corporate fleet safe and sound as well as reduce economic losses.

Eliminate Distracted Driving

Nearly 39,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes per year in the United States (38,824 in 2020) and about 10% of them were due to the dangerous habit of driving while distracted. In 2021, distracted driving claimed 3,522 lives and nearly the same amount the year before, according to NHTSA.

It constitutes any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, or fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system. Of all distractions, using a cell phone while driving is considerably alarming, especially when it comes to texting. 

Sending or reading a text could take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. 

Fleet Managers play your part. Spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving. Ask your employees to commit to distraction-free driving or set a company policy that stresses this. 

Eliminate Vehicle Theft

Motor vehicles are a key part of our everyday lives and often the life blood of fleet operations. In the US, more than 800,000 drivers fall victim to this costly crime each year.

In 2020, at least 804,000 vehicles were stolen (one every 39 seconds), summing to $7 billion in costs. At least three in four of them were passenger cars and Summer is the season when most thefts occur. Also, according to NHTSA, approximately half of those thefts were due to driver error so take the appropriate actions to eliminate theft.

Use common sense when parking and exiting your vehicle: Take your vehicle's key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle; Close and lock all windows and doors when you park; Park in well-lit areas if possible; Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.

Remember that thieves want vehicle parts and valuable items, too. Radios and wheel covers aren't the only popular stolen vehicle parts thieves take. Some of the most popular vehicle parts or valuable items stolen from vehicles include doors, engines, transmissions, air bags, radios, GPS units, cell phones, iPads, laptops, and purses.

There are numerous antitheft systems and devices designed to make vehicles more difficult to steal or easier to trace and recover. Here are how some of them work:

•   Audible and Visible Devices: These devices, such as a horn alarm, deter theft by bringing attention to an unauthorized attempt to steal or enter a vehicle. Visible devices create a visual threat/warning/deterrence, such as the use of steering-wheel locks, as well as theft-deterrent decals, flashing lights, and window etching.

•   Immobilizing-Type Devices: These prevent thieves from bypassing a vehicle’s ignition system and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some incorporate computer chips in ignition keys or disable the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine.

•   Vehicle Recovery Systems: These devices use electronic transmission technology that help law enforcement reveal the location of stolen vehicles—and possibly catch the thief in the act. View more here...