NJ CAR is committed to helping dealers develop a workplace safety culture that becomes second nature. Don’t wait until an accident happens to focus on safety. You can reduce the chance of injury and protect your bottom line with simple, common-sense changes.
With heavy traffic summer months approaching, it’s a good idea to give additional attention to defensive driving. Since many employees drive many different vehicles throughout the day, it’s also important employees make sure they are operating vehicles safely.
One area often overlooked is the adjustment of vehicle mirrors before driving the vehicle. Proper adjustment and use of mirrors will help increase the safety of a lane change during travel on congested roads. Proper adjustment and use of mirrors also reduces accidental injury and property damage when maneuvering through a dealership lot, garage area, or other areas where employees and pedestrians might be walking.
Adjust Mirrors
•While safely parked, place your head against the driver’s side window. Set the driver’s side mirror so you can just see the side of the car.•To adjust the passenger side window, position your head at the middle of the vehicle and set the mirror so you can just see the side of the car.
Adjustments like these, when done consistently and properly, should help drivers further reduce blind spots.
On The Road
•Constantly scan the roadway, knowing what is around your vehicle at all times. •Try to create adequate space between your vehicle and others. Adjust your speed so that four to five seconds pass before you pass the exact spot of the car driving directly in front of you. You can use mile markers or signs to gauge this. More and more seconds should pass at higher speeds.•Always check to see if any vehicles are in your blind spot before changing lanes.•Check more than once before changing lanes, and make sure you signal your intention to change lanes well in advance.
For more information on the NJ CAR Workers’ Compensation Program and its Zero Injury Program (ZIP), please contact Charles Russo, NJ CAR’s Risk Manager & Safety Specialist, at 609.883.5056, Ext. 314, or send an email to [email protected].