SAFETY
BUCKLE UP: NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO SAFETY
James Brown, Director of Health & Safety
james.brown@respec.com
MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
Motor vehicle use is considered one of RESPEC’s top safety risks. Our employee-owners travel extensively for business, covering approximately 600,000 miles in 2021 and 2022 combined. That’s equivalent to 24 trips around the earth—and no, we’re not counting flights.
RESPEC has developed a program with our insurance carrier to address motor vehicle safety: RESPEC’s Motor Vehicle Safety Program. It aims to promote safe driving practices, minimize accidents, and safeguard both our employee-owners and the public. This program also provides a set of procedures for safely and legally operating motor vehicles during official RESPEC business. RESPEC-owned vehicles are the norm for business travel; however, some jobs may require a personal or rental vehicle.
ANIMAL COLLISIONS
We don’t often discuss animal collisions with vehicles when it comes to safe travel, but collisions with animals can be very costly and sometimes deadly. According to State Farm Insurance, more than 1.9 million animal collision insurance claims were submitted in the U.S. between July 2021 and June 2022. In 2021, 164 deaths were reported from a collision with an animal.
Think your odds of an animal encounter are low? Statistically, it’s 1 in 115, but some states hold higher risks (interestingly, states where RESPEC has an office presence):
1. West Virginia – 1 in 35
2. Montana – 1 in 44
3. South Dakota – 1 in 51
Collisions can occur with many animals throughout the year, but data show that most collisions occur between September and December. In the Midwest, animals such as deer are in rut during the fall, which increases their movement. Commuters will likely encounter deer during daily travel; most encounters happen at dawn or dusk when animals move from their foraging to bedding areas.
As deer and animal populations grow and their habitats decrease, animal collision frequency will continue to increase. We can’t keep every animal from crossing in front of us, but we can use some basic tips to avoid collisions.
Always:
- Stay alert. Scan the shoulders of the road on both sides ahead of you.
- Use high beams in dark areas to see farther ahead.
- Try not to swerve. If a collision is unavoidable, try to stay in your lane and apply the brakes. Always maintain control of the vehicle.
- Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk.
- Slow down on winding roads and at night.
- Wear a seatbelt.