Posts Tagged ‘vehicle safety’
No Pressure, But Check Your Tires Already
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
Bad wheels can bring business to a screeching halt
It only takes about five minutes a month to ensure that you and your fleet have well-performing tires. A move that could save you headaches and money down the road.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association recommends a four-part check performed at least once a month, on all tires including the spare, to make sure they’re operating at an optimal level.
P.A.R.T.
To help you and your drivers remember what to check, remember the acronym P.A.R.T., which stands for:
Pressure
A tire can lose half of its pressure and still not look flat, so be sure to check your tires pressure levels at least once a month, more if you are putting high mileage on them. Under-inflation can lead to tire stress and irregular wear and tear, as well as spending money to have them replaced more often then necessary.
Alignment
You never know what the roads may bring – potholes, sleet, a sudden stop for a stray dog. The road can throw your front end out of whack, causing shaking or pulling. If you notice your vehicle doing either, have your mechanic check your alignment. The longer you ignore it, the worse it will get, and the more it will cost to fix.
Rotation
Unless your vehicle has a specific recommendation, which you can find in your owner’s manual, you should have your tires rotated at least every 5,000 miles. Proper rotation will make sure that you’re not wearing out the front tires faster then the back, and vice versa, resulting in you being able to get more road and rubber out of your ride.
Tread
Take a good, close look at the tread on your tire to make sure there are no extremely high, low or completely bald areas. Tire tread helps your vehicles grip the asphalt, and worn tires are worthless in inclement conditions. Rough, worn, or cracked tires should be replaced before your next haul.
Remember, not only does it cost nothing to check your tires on a regular basis, it could actually save money in the long run. So encourage your drivers on how to inspect and maintain their vehicle’s tires. It’s an easy way for everyone to do their P.A.R.T. for the entire fleet.
Photo copyright of charmcitygavin under the Creative Commons license
Tags: alignment, fleet management, Rubber Manufacturers Association, safety, safety tips, tire, tire pressure, vehicle maintenance, vehicle safety
Posted in Fleet Resources | 1 Comment »
Safety First: Tips to Protect Your Fleet From Drunk and Erratic Drivers
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
With your drivers on the road throughout the day, the chances are more than likely that at one point they will come across a drunk driver, or someone who has fallen ill and is unable to control their vehicle.
This month’s edition of Business Driver provides some helpful tips that you can share with your drivers as a reminder of the dangers they may face on the road at any given time.
First of all, signs of an impaired driver range from obvious to situations that are harder to identify. Watch for drivers who are weaving, crossing the center line, taking wide turns, driving 10 miles per hour below the speed limit, following other cars too closely, braking without warning, driving without headlights on at night or stopping inconsistently.
If you or one of you drivers is confronted with this situation, it is important to remember to let the police do their job. While you can help by reporting a driver you feel is putting other people on the road in danger, don’t try to be a hero. The most important thing to do is ensure your own safety first.
Stay far behind the vehicle that is driving erratically and be ready for the unexpected to happen. Make sure that you and any passengers in your vehicle are wearing seatbelts. Pull over to the side of the road and call 911 or *SP, which will put you in contact with state police and give the authorities the location, direction of travel, a description of the car and the driver’s actions.
It may seem like it would be just as easy to avoid the problem and get past it as quickly as possible, but alerting authorities could truly save lives.
To read more about defending yourself and your drivers on the road and some of the steps automakers are taking to ensure better safety options in their vehicles, check out the extensive article on driving distractions here.
Photo copyright of woodleywonderworks and re-used under the Creative Commons license.
Tags: Business Driver, driver tips, vehicle safety
Posted in Fleet Resources | No Comments »
200+ Commercial Trucks Taken Out of Service During One-Day Safety Inspection
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
A story out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that might get you to think twice about putting off proper maintenance for your fleet vehicles:
On April 7th of this year, Pennsylvania state police placed nearly 250 commercial trucks out of service during a one-day enforcement effort on rural roads and highways off the interstate.
Conducted by members of the state’s police motor carrier enforcement teams, the initiative aptly named C.R.A.S.H. (The Commercial Motor Vehicle Commonwealth Rural Roads and State Highways detail) was carried out as a way to combat recent statistics that revealed more than 50 percent of commercial motor vehicle accidents and fatalities take place in rural areas and highways located off of major interstates.
Of the 1,258 commercial vehicles inspected, 243 vehicles were taken out of service, 791 traffic citations were issued and 1,917 warnings for vehicle and driver violations were written.
As you know, state safety inspections involve more than just kicking the tires and checking under the hood. Look at your states DOT website to see if they provide a checklist for their safety inspection.
It could save you a lot of headaches down the road.
Photo copyright of Kerri2009 and re-used under the Creative Commons license
Tags: C.R.A.S.H., DOT, safety inspections, vehicle safety
Posted in Industry News | 1 Comment »
Happy Birthday to the Seatbelt
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
50 years ago, a Volvo engineer invented what we now know as the three-point seatbelt. The seat belt has undoubtedly saved hundreds of thousands of lives, but some experts counter that it may also be the cause of many accidents.
Sound strange? William Exkenberger of Smithsonian magazine theorizes that due to “risk compensation,” people who wear their seatbelts feel more prone to dangerous activity since they feel more secure. When a driver feels safer because they are wearing their seatbelt, they tend to make choices that they wouldn’t if they were not wearing their seatbelt.
We always encourage our drivers to buckle their seatbelts, and hope you do the same. Consider the following statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- Seatbelt usage nationwide was 83% in 2008
- The NHTSA estimates that 15,147 lives were saved in 2007 by the use of seat belts.
- If all passenger vehicle occupants over age 4 wore seat belts, 20,171 lives (that is, an additional 5,024) could have been saved in 2007
- In 2007, 33 percent of passenger car occupants and 37 percent of light-truck occupants involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained
Photo copyright of Rebecca Jackson and used under the Creative Commons license
Tags: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, safety, seat belt, vehicle safety
Posted in Industry News | 1 Comment »
Vehicle Safety Check for Dummies
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
If you are a business owner, having vehicles on the road is normal but not knowing if they have passed a safety check is nerve racking. But why put yourself through that? Make safety your number one priority. Here is a simple – but important – checklist of items you should check before any one of your vehicles hits the road:
- Test the brakes to make sure they are in good working condition
- Verify that fuel and oil tanks are full
- Check that there is an adequate amount of windshield washer fluid
- Double-check that all cargo is secure
- Walk around the truck to check all tires. Any deflated or bald tires should be fixed or replaced.
- Verify that the vehicle is stocked with road flares, first aid kit and fire extinguisher
Tags: safety tips, vehicle maintenance, vehicle performance, vehicle safety
Posted in Small Business Help Tips | 2 Comments »
