Driving at work

Build a safe driving plan

Once you’ve considered the ten components of a driving program, you can build out your safe driving plan. A safe driving plan is a document that workers, managers and employers can refer to during training and throughout their employment. This document should be reviewed periodically.

Check the regulations: Outline relevant legislation that drivers should be aware of.

Overview: Outline the document’s purpose, who the plan applies to and who is exempt from the plan.

Responsibilities: Outline who will be responsible for the plan, who will communicate it to staff, who will provide training, and who will review the document to ensure it is accurate.

Hazard inventory and risk assessment: Outline hazards and their potential risk to workers.

Journey management: Outline what process workers and supervisors will use to determine if driving is safe based on weather conditions, mechanical state of the vehicle, etc.

Confirming driver qualifications: Describe what steps will be taken to evaluate a driver’s skills, what training or additional resources will be used, and how often a worker will be required to provide an abstract.

Driver education and training: In addition to possessing a diver’s license, what other training will the driver need?

Vehicle preparedness: Outline how often a vehicle will be inspected, what that inspection involves and what documentation is necessary.

Supervision: What criteria will supervisors observe and evaluate when assessing drivers?

Distracted driving: Driving while distracted has become the leading cause of crashes and fatalities, which is why it’s important to develop a distracted driving policy.

Fatigue management: Fatigue is a leading contributor to motor vehicle crashes, which is why your driving program should describe the steps the organization and drivers will take to manage fatigue risks.

General driving practices: Outline rules that are obvious, like wearing a seatbelt and obeying the speed limit, as well as any rules your organization would like to implement, like no smoking in work vehicles.

Young or new workers: Young and new workers may require additional training. This includes any vehicle that a worker has not operated before.

Driving alone: Your safe driving plan should describe procedures that acknowledge driving alone, who a check-in contact should be, and requirements such as carrying a charged cell phone.

Emergency procedures: Outline the procedures for an emergency and what measures they should take to ensure their safety.

Incident reporting and investigations: Outline which motor vehicle incidents will be reported and who will be involved in the investigation process.

Rental vehicles: If workers are renting vehicles for use, include guidance on how they should select, inspect and use those vehicles.

Personal protective equipment: Describe the personal protective equipment workers are expected to carry, such as foot protection or safety glasses for the sites they are visiting.

Vehicle emergency kits: Outline what each vehicle’s emergency kit should be equipped with and inspect kits every six months.

Licensing and insurance: In addition to the standard insurance practices, your safe driving plan should describe any additional insurance requirements workers may need to meet. Be aware that if work vehicles (company-owned or worker-owned) are used to transport workers, Part 22 of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation specifies additional operational requirements. Consider increasing liability insurance coverage for those vehicles.

Disciplinary process: Decide how many penalty points are considered too many, what steps the company will take in response to a serious driving infraction, and how a driver can regain their driving privileges.