The 4th of July is historically one of the most dangerous days on U.S. roads. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 599 people may die on U.S. roads this Independence Day weekend. From 2018 to 2022, 2,228 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July, with drunk driving a factor in 39% of those crashes.
Yet some of your fleet’s drivers will inevitably be on the roads during the holiday week. So how can you help your drivers stay safe?
Fleet safety doesn’t take time off for holidays. That’s why it’s essential to focus your efforts on building a world-class fleet safety program, to help your drivers build safe habits every day of the year.
The best safety programs should include targeted coaching and continuous improvement efforts, while relying on fleet management technology that empowers managers to help the riskiest drivers before they hit the road.
Let’s explore how an AI-powered fleet management solution can help you improve your drivers’ behaviors and build defensive driving habits for one of the riskiest holidays of the year.
Develop a targeted safety coaching program
Driver coaching can’t be a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Less experienced drivers may need help fine-tuning their skills or gaining different types of experience, while more seasoned drivers may have slipped into bad habits over the years. The key is to be proactive and intentional rather than simply reactive when an incident occurs.
Targeted coaching tailors your efforts to each driver’s unique needs. The Motive Fleet Dashboard can help you identify which drivers engage in risky behaviors. The dashboard also ranks your fleet’s drivers to help you prioritize acting on the riskiest drivers.
While in-person sessions are important to building trust, technology can help bridge the gap between face-to-face sessions, with periodic video coaching to reinforce the lessons. The Motive Driver App can show drivers video clips of recent incidents and send automated coaching tips directly to drivers.
Strive for continuous safety improvement
Your ongoing coaching program can help build the habits. But to reinforce good behavior, make sure you’re measuring and sharing results over time.
It all comes back to setting expectations. Make sure you’re communicating that the company is driven to improve safety for everyone — and clearly explain each driver’s role in that mission. Note their progress and set goals for the coming weeks or months. And make sure to acknowledge improvements. Even a quick text message or phone call can go a long way.
Automated coaching and in-cab alerts help drivers stay aware of their behaviors, providing tips and immediate actions that reinforce the lessons covered during coaching sessions.
AI can support your safety efforts
No matter the size of your fleet, AI technology can help you build, implement, and manage your safety coaching program.
An integrated operations platform like Motive’s gives safety managers full visibility and control, letting them see which drivers are excelling and which have room to improve.
With Motive’s AI Dashcam, you don’t need to review hundreds of hours of dash cam footage. Rather, Motive automates the process, adding context and scoring each incident for severity. The coaching workflow in the Motive Fleet Dashboard helps focus your efforts on the most important incidents so you can spend your time wisely.
For example, if Motive notifies you of a driver’s near-miss, watch the video. Then watch it again. What do you see? Was your driver in the wrong, or did they take proper defensive action? With that information, you can have a targeted, productive conversation with your driver — or offer kudos for quick thinking.
The Motive Fleet Dashboard can also quantify driver performance and rank your drivers in a leaderboard. Share this data across the fleet to celebrate your safest drivers or those who demonstrate improvements.
By leveraging technology and automation, fleet managers can ensure that their coaching and safety efforts are having the biggest impact, while freeing up everyone’s time.
Keep your drivers safe beyond the holiday
Help your drivers build the habits and behaviors that keep them safe this 4th of July and beyond. Download our Ultimate Guide: Building a world-class fleet safety program to get started.
