FLEET SAFETY
BY:JASON SCHNEIDER
COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
How to
Implement A
SAFETY
CULTURE
H
ave you seen your fleet
insurance rates rise in recent
years? If so, you are not
alone. A number of factors
have contributed to these
increases, including a higher incidence
of traffic accidents caused by distracted
driving, greater cost of repairs due to
more sophisticated auto technologies,
skyrocketing medical costs, and the
difficulty in recruiting experienced drivers.
With claims topping hundreds of millions
a year in Canada, business owners must
use every tool in their arsenals to better
control insurance costs and help reduce
the number of claims attributable to their
fleets.
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A well-conceived fleet safety program
requires a comprehensive effort that
crosses many departments within your
company, including those responsible for
hiring and managing drivers, maintaining
fleets, establishing company standards,
and enforcing them. Management can
play a critical role in developing a “safety-
first” culture so that everybody in the
organization understands the importance
of their role in working toward a standard
of safety excellence. This type of company
culture, of course, is also invaluable in
creating high morale and a positive attitude
among your employees.
When you implement a culture of safety
first, you also become better positioned
when it comes to your insurance profile.
Your proven record of emphasizing safety
can become an important negotiating tool
when it comes time to purchase a new
policy or negotiate a claim, particularly if
you have a good track record under your
belt. Your insurance agent should act as an
advocate in this regard, working on your
behalf not only to obtain the best possible
coverage but also to favourably resolve
claims and negotiate settlements.
What are the components of a
comprehensive safety program? They
may include things that you are already
doing, but they need to be coordinated and