3 Reasons Every Business Should Prioritize Driver Safety

Driver safety should be a priority for businesses of all sizes.

Whether you have just a few vehicles for local deliveries or your business maintains a large fleet, ensuring those vehicles are used safely can directly benefit your company's bottom line. In fact, each $1 you spend on safety at your business could provide a return of $2 or more due to decreased risk of costs associated with workplace accidents.^.1

But more importantly, a focus on careful driving helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees. Here are three reasons every business should make driver safety a top priority.

1. Reputation

When people see your company's logo on a vehicle, your brand and reputation are on the line. If you have dents or scrapes on your vehicle, or signs of a previous accident, people may see this as evidence of careless driving or vehicle maintenance and question your company's overall care and attention to quality or workmanship.

2. Business Costs

If your business depends on deliveries, it's hard to make deadlines when your delivery vehicle is in the shop! Costs can also add up if you need to rent a replacement vehicle, and hiring and training new drivers also takes time and resources. Late deliveries or damaged cargo can erode customer trust, and you may even lose their business altogether.

3. Serious Accidents

Even smaller incidents can result in delays and lost productivity for your business—not to mention increased costs for your business's auto and worker's compensation insurance. However, when it comes to more serious accidents, the stakes are even higher.

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that transportation incidents were the most common occupational fatalities in 2023, accounting for 36.8 percent of all fatal work injuries.²

We know it's tough to think about, but a motor vehicle accident resulting in an injury or fatality can be devastating to the employee, their family, and your business.

What is a driver safety program?

Businesses of any size with at least one vehicle should consider creating a driver safety program.

A driver safety program involves developing standard procedures for driver selection, management responsibilities, safety training, supervision, and preventative maintenance at your business.

What are the benefits of a driver safety program?

Source: 1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, "Business Case for Safety and Health," U.S. Department of Labor, accessed January 1, 2024. | 2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2023,” U.S. Department of Labor (USDL-24-2564 ), published December 19, 2024.