February 2017 Newsletter

    Vehicle & Driver Safety

We encourage continuing education, driver safety courses and training for those responsible for operating our insureds’ vehicles.  These safeguards are designed to heighten the awareness and underscore the importance of being an approved, safe driver.  Once the insurance requirements are met, we encourage you to take the reins and move the safety message forward by hosting a semi-annual meeting with your auto ministry.  This provides an opportunity to meet and discuss a host of important topics.   There is great value in offering safety programs and reminders about being a safe driver.  Please consider the following information when planning your meeting agenda.

Semi-Annual Review –

1. Refresh your list of approved drivers and vehicle information.  Update name changes, address changes, medical changes and movement violations.  Verify the vehicle information on your policy is accurate (VIN, Age, Type, Model, Seating capacity).  Compile the information and contact your agent for policy updates and endorsements.
    
2. Review the insurance requirements for vehicles and drivers.  There is often an age range which drivers must fall between.  There are requirements for some to obtain physician statements, take online courses and provide clean MVR results.  Also, vehicles are required to fall within a certain age range.  A vehicle maintenance inspection may be required.
    
3. Head out to the vehicle itself.  Provide a pre-travel check list, travel log and post-travel check list.  Go through all pre-travel requirements, e.g. checking tire pressure, all fluid levels, all headlight/brake light and turn signals, cracked windshields or body damage.  Review the travel log expectations.  Outline how long a driver is allowed to drive between breaks.  Require mandatory breaks of a certain length of time.  Explain the benefits of logging mileage and operating radius of each trip.  Finally, include the post-travel review.  Include requirements about filling the gas tank, reporting all accidents, and any damage/maintenance concerns.
    
4. Provide seasonal driving tips.  The spring and summer months are prime opportunities for foggy conditions, heavy rain, over-heating and hot weather related breakdowns.  The fall and winter months are susceptible to the snow, ice and cold.  Review how to drive in snow, e.g. slow down, avoiding excessive breaking and quick stops, allow more time for travel and more distance between vehicles.  There are many resources available to help educate your drivers.  Even the most seasoned driver can benefit from a friendly reminder.
    
5. Finally, outline when and how vehicles can be used.  If weather conditions are poor, do not allow travel.  Require all drivers to suspend and post-pone trips in poor conditions.  Be very clear who can operate the vehicle.  If they are not an approved driver on the list provided to your insurance carrier, they should not operate the vehicle, not even to move a vehicle to a new parking space within your parking lot.