Safe Driving for Dealers: 3 Tips for Avoiding Accidents (and OSHA Citations)

For many dealerships, accidents frequently occur at one or a handful of problem areas. Maybe there’s a busy intersection on the lot or an obstruction at a corner creating a large blindspot. Look for and eliminate potential hazards proactively, and address issues as soon as there’s an incident. Employees are sometimes aware of these problems before health and safety managers are, so encourage the members of your workforce to speak up if they’ve witnessed an accident or noticed a hazard.

Drivers should respect all signs and markers, and never leave a vehicle in a spot where it shouldn’t be parked—regardless of how quickly they intend to return. An improperly parked vehicle can increase the likelihood of collisions, as other drivers don’t expect the vehicle to be there or can’t see it, and may cause serious problems if there’s an emergency, e.g. if the vehicle is obstructing a fire lane.

Drivers should obey speed limit signs (make sure to post these if you haven’t already), watch out for pedestrians, and never look at a mobile device, fill out paperwork, or engage in other activities while operating the vehicle. Discourage multitasking. No accident is worth a couple minutes saved.