According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the US—resulting in nearly 37,000 fatalities during a four-year period to end the last decade. Fatal crashes, collisions, and rollover incidents put drivers at risk and ramp-up employer costs.
Companies instituting safe vehicle policies, such as driver safety training and global positioning systems to monitor vehicles, are better prepared to protect employees and avoid accidents. The best place to start is in the parking lot.
First-Move-Forward
When ready to park, employees should use the First-Move-Forward policy—instead of pulling in, a driver backs into a parking space. When ready to leave, drivers pull out facing forward for better visibility to spot oncoming cars or pedestrians.
This small yet effective change saves lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that approximately 12,000 pedestrians were injured and nearly killed by cars backing up in 2015.