Safety Coach
Pack a Bag of Safety
As Labor Day weekend approaches, many will be looking for ways to celebrate the unofficial end of summer. Friends, loved ones and coworkers will plan road trips, and attend backyard barbeques or local festivals. Some will throw tailgate parties to mark the opening of football season. Here are some ways you can encourage them to have fun and be safe:
Start with this simple message: If you’re going out, plan for a sober ride home (taxi, rideshare service or designated driver). Then, download and display this vintage safety poster: Your Designated Driver.
Engage in the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual Labor Day safety campaign: Drive Sober. No Regrets. Get free materials for display at your location. Alternatively, share these resources from TxDOT in an email blast or on your community safety page:
- Bars to Cars poster
- Surge Pricing poster (available in English and Spanish)
- College outreach flyer (available in English and Spanish)
TxDOT also outlines the real cost of drunk driving and features these three 30-second testimonial videos:
Last year, more than 1,000 people were killed in Texas in crashes where a driver was under the influence of alcohol, including 35 from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, according to TxDOT. Be part of the safety solution. Here are three more ways to make a positive impact at your organization:
- Educate and train employees: Provide regular training on the dangers of multi-substance use and the risks of driving under the influence. Use resources such as our Impaired Driving Micro-Learning course or the Drug Interaction Checker from Drugs.com.
- Regular screenings and assessments: Be diligent with random alcohol and drug testing for employees in safety-sensitive positions. This is an effective way to identify habitual users and can help ensure your organization is in compliance with safety standards.
- Leverage technology and tools: Take advantage of the National Safety Council Substance Use Cost Calculator and the BAC Virtual Bar from responsibility.org to understand the impact of substance use and make informed decisions.
Impairment is often a hidden safety risk and can prevent individuals from being at their best – whether at work or behind the wheel. When you learn to better recognize the signs and symptoms of impairment, you’ll be better equipped to keep everyone around you safe – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Learn about our free professional development course: Workplace Impairment Training.
In the meantime, do your part to help everyone on your team make lasting memories during the long holiday weekend. Embrace the job as a labor of love!
Tailgate Talk
Rise and Shine
A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy drivers were involved in 18% of all fatal crashes over a five-year period from 2017 to 2021, resulting in nearly 30,000 deaths nationwide.
Four Key Takeaways
- Estimated deaths from drowsy driving increased from 5,773 in 2017 to 6,726 in 2021
- Men aged 21-34 represented the largest group of drowsy drivers in crashes
- Most crashes occurred on rural or urban arterial roads between 11 p.m. and 2:59 a.m. and involved vehicles driving off the road
- Crashes between 3 a.m. and 6:59 a.m. were most likely to involve drowsy drivers
Read more in Family Safety & Heath, a publication of the National Safety Council: Study links drowsy driving to nearly 30,000 deaths over 5 years
What’s the Impact of Drowsiness on Driving?
- Driving while drowsy is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol
- Drowsiness impacts a driver’s ability to recognize hazards and react quickly
- Driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of drunk driving, according to sleepfoundation.org
What Can You Do?
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (Nov. 4-8) is a good time to remind your team drowsy driving is impaired driving. Prepare now so you are ready to raise awareness and reduce crash risk:
- Download and display this vintage safety poster: Not Your Dream Car.
- Share this 1-minute driver behavior safety series video: Fatigue (available in English and Spanish).
- Micro e-learning: Use these virtual traffic safety training modules – including one on drowsy driving – as a way to provide continuing education. The training modules are free and accessible online, so your employees can train at their own pace and in their own environment.
- Explain how technology can be your friend: Safety technologies such as drowsiness alert and lane departure warnings can detect common drowsy driving patterns and warn drivers to stay in their lane or take a break. Talk about how they work during your next safety meeting.
- Employer action: Review your safety and health portfolio and be sure you’ve included information on sleep health. Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep to reach peak performance levels. Does your benefits package cover treatments for employees experiencing sleep disorders, including sleep apnea? Discuss benefits during your next enrollment period.
Learn more: Drivers Are Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel.
Mental fatigue often is the result of a repetitive or monotonous task, such as a difficult drive in heavy traffic. Steer your coworkers, friends and loved ones away from catastrophic consequences.