Anytime your drivers hit the road, they are surrounded by any number of people with diminished operational control. Distractions, speeding, fatigue, aggression, DUI—it’s a minefield out there. Faced with the 'other driver' and their poor decisions and actions it’s certainly no easy job to manage your fleet’s risk exposure but together we prepare your drivers to steer clear of the oncoming danger.
One area that’s a serious cause for concern is the growing abuse of prescription opioids. It’s has reached epidemic levels. The latest research shows a seven-fold increase since 1995 in the number of drivers killed while under the influence of prescription opioids. And it doesn’t appear to be getting any better as Researchers at Columbia University’s Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention expect a continued increase in the percentage of fatal crashes related to opioid usage
It is High Time to Weed Out the Risks of Drugged Driving
The American Journal of Public Health published a paper looking at the effects this epidemic is having on driver safety. Researchers found that the percentage of drivers with prescription opioids detected in their systems at the time of death surged from 1.0% in 1995 to 7.2% in 2015! If you’re not alarmed yet, consider that a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, found that more than 11 million people misused prescription opioids in 2017. Yes, most people use prescription drugs responsibly but you cannot escape the fact that your drivers are on the road with these 'other drivers' every day, hour and minute.
What should you be communicating to your fleet? Tell them: You cannot be complacent. You cannot depend on someone or something else to keep you safe. You and you alone are responsible for your safety behind the wheel. Encourage and enforce constant situational awareness. Take the time to understand the warning signs of a driver operating in your safety zone who has the potential to put you at risk. Be proactive. Respond accordingly before it’s too late to control the situation. And always remember—complacency kills. Get this message out on a regular basis. It’s worth repeating.
Also, provided here, to share with you drivers, is a free copy of Driving Dynamics’ The Other Driver—10 Warning Signs. Although we can’t control the “other driver” and their actions, each person in your fleet can be empowered to stay alert to warning signs and be ready to steer clear of anyone that may be potentially place them in harm’s way.
Fleet and Safety Management: See a preview of the DriveReady Advantage™ virtual driver safety training class.