Driving for Work is a Dangerous Job

If you are one of the thousands of individuals who drive and/or commute as part of your job, this blog post is for you.

Most of this discussion will be centered on factual statistics. In return, our hope is that you share this information with your employer and also learn a bit for yourself.

First and foremost, we are aware of the alarming statistics that car accidents are the leading cause of death for people 3-33 years of age. However, the even more frightening part is that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of occupational fatalities in the U.S.

As drivers, we tend to drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. Many of us clock our miles to and from work, picking the kids up from school or taking a family vacation. However, employees who literally “drive” for a living have a greater chance of being involved in a car accident than the average American. The “fleet drivers” (as they call them) commute 20,000-25,000 miles per year.

Employers tend to neglect their own employees’ safety when he/she is constantly on the road. According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, these statistics should be shared with any company who places employees on the road. Take a peek at these facts and share them with your fellow “fleet drivers” and throughout your company to ensure the year ahead is a safe one.

• In 2000, the economic cost of car crashes to employers was $60 billion resulting in 3 million lost workdays. Two-thirds of the cost ($40 billion) was from on-the-job crashes while one-third ($20 billion) was from off-the-job crashes for employees and their benefit-eligible dependents.

• The average on-the-job crash costs an employer about $16,500 or just under $0.16 per mile driven. Crashes involving injuries cost substantially more — $504,408 for a fatal injury and $73,750 for a nonfatal injury.

• With over 90% of motor vehicle crashes caused by human error, employers with high roadway exposure are at risk for a serious crash resulting in a lawsuit against their organization. The damages that are awarded to plaintiffs, who make claims for negligence against companies and employers, are at an all-time high. Settlements of $1 million or more are not unusual.

Therefore, the financial and human resources department of every company should have their hands at “ten and two” when it comes to implementing a strong driver safety program. If your company doesn’t have this, utilize this information to help create one. To all drivers who brave the roads each day, we commend you and hope you remain safe!!

If you or your organization would like insights about the best practices for insurance coverages and car accident prevention, please contact us for free information.