Driving Safety Topics for Workers
All drivers should always be fully aware of their surroundings, remain focused solely on driving and avoid all types of distractions.
Long-Distance Driving Safety Tips for Workers on the Road
Review these important safety tips for drivers that may need to embark on a one-time long distance drive or are required to take long drives more often.
On the Road, Defensive Driving is Safe, Smart, and Steady
Important defensive driving tips for safe drivers to practice on every drive, including preparation, observation, visibility, and anticipation.
Multitasking is a Myth: Why Distracted Driving Can Be Deadly
When behind the wheel, drivers should always be fully aware of their surroundings, remain focused solely on driving and avoid all types of distractions.
Pay Attention! Texting While Driving is a Deadly Distraction
Whether you are driving your own car, a fleet vehicle, a forklift, a riding lawn mower, or a dump truck, driving any vehicle requires your full attention.
Construction Site Winter Weather Driving Safety Precautions
Review of winter hazard reminders and safety tips for construction crews working near or driving work vehicles or heavy equipment on the job site.
On the Job Driving Safety for All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
Review hazards and practical safety tips to protect all-terrain vehicle operators from dangerous and deadly incidents when using ATVs at the work site.
Safety Tips for Driving Heavy Equipment on the Work Site
Defensive driving applies to the job site too, no matter if that is a construction site, a warehouse parking lot, a residential area, or an isolated field site.
Driving safety for workers is the set of safe habits, training, and vehicle checks that protect employees whenever driving is part of the job, whether they are behind the wheel of a company car, a delivery truck, or a piece of heavy equipment. Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of work-related death in the United States, and the risk reaches any employee who drives on public roads or moves a vehicle around a busy job site.
The articles on this page explain the most common driving risks and how to manage them. They cover distracted driving and why texting or going hands-free is still dangerous, defensive and aggressive driving, driver fatigue on long trips, backing up and working with spotters or ground guides, driving in winter and other bad weather, the pre-drive vehicle walk-around, and safe trailer loading and towing. Others cover specialized vehicles such as ATVs, golf carts, and heavy equipment on the work site.
Use them to brief a driver before a long haul, refresh safe habits after a near miss, or lead a safety meeting on distracted driving or backing hazards. They are written for fleet supervisors, safety managers, and any worker who drives a company vehicle or operates equipment as part of the job.
Why it matters
Leading cause of work-related deaths
Frameworks
NHTSA · FMCSA hours-of-service
Free articles
20+
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Fleet drivers and mobile crews
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OSHA have a standard for driving safety?
OSHA does not have a specific standard for operating a motor vehicle on public roads. Employers are still responsible for driver safety under the General Duty Clause (OSHA 5(a)(1)), which requires a workplace free of recognized hazards, and highway rules fall to NHTSA and, for commercial vehicles, the FMCSA.
What is defensive driving?
Defensive driving is a set of habits that anticipates the mistakes of other drivers and changing road conditions so you can prevent a crash rather than just react to one. It includes keeping a safe following distance, scanning far ahead, adjusting speed for conditions, and always leaving yourself an escape route.
Is hands-free calling safe while driving?
No, hands-free is not risk-free. Research shows the main danger of phone use behind the wheel is cognitive distraction, not just taking your hands off the wheel, so a hands-free call still pulls attention away from the road. The safest practice is to not use the phone at all while driving.
How can drivers prevent fatigue on long trips?
Drivers can reduce fatigue by getting enough sleep before a trip, taking a break roughly every two hours or 100 miles, sharing the driving when possible, and stopping to rest at the first signs of drowsiness such as heavy eyes or drifting in the lane. Fatigue slows reaction time much like alcohol, so pushing through it is not safe.
Why is backing up so dangerous, and how can workers do it safely?
Backing up is high-risk because of the large blind spot behind a vehicle, and backing incidents are a common cause of struck-by injuries and property damage. Workers should walk around the vehicle first, use a trained spotter with agreed hand signals, back slowly, and avoid backing by pulling through a space when they can.
What should a pre-drive vehicle inspection include?
A pre-drive walk-around confirms the vehicle is safe before it moves, so problems are caught in the yard instead of on the road. Check tires, lights and signals, mirrors, brakes, horn, wipers, and fluid leaks, confirm any load is secure, then report and fix defects before driving.