What I Have Learned

Lisa R. Robinson, CFLE?

Warning: this is a long read, but it’s worth your time (though I may be biased)?

We all know the adage, ”you’re never too old to learn new tricks.” Having worked in roadway and driver safety for over 15 years - first with courts, then with students and adults, and then occupationally with employers- you would expect me to have a deep repertoire of knowledge. Well, that’s true, but I’ve recently learned what I didn’t know.

I’ve trained, educated, and partnered with employers, municipalities, organizations, and associations on the critical topic of building a culture where driver safety is a core value. Not a priority or goal to achieve, but a CORE VALUE. I’ve trained and educated many people on journey and fleet management, creating driver safety programs, developing effective driver policies, and so much more. I’ have trained far and wide on the idea that “driving is the most dangerous part of the day” for the employee population, specifically for—those who frequently or occasionally drive as part of their job and occasionally drive.

Despite all of this, in the first 30 days at my new job, I’ve learned something important that I was missing. Change does not come easy to me, but let me tell you, this job change is making me even more passionate and dynamic and deepening my roadway safety mission! It’s personal.?

I’ve recently learned just how shockingly unsafe the roadways are for our first responders, tow truck drivers, and road maintenance crews, and others. Every day, there are tragic stories of working people in the roadway being struck and suffering severe injuries, life-altering impact, or death.?

I want to repeat this part; every day, working people who should be protected enough to safely perform their jobs are hit. Look this up yourself; I think you’ll be as surprised and affected as I’ve been.

I remember hearing about departments using fire trucks to protect workers on the road due to the number of secondary crashes involving drivers crashing into the primary crash, resulting in more destruction. The cost of replacing a totaled fire truck is significant, but it can be replaced. A person is irreplaceable.??

Every day at HAAS Alert, my colleagues share links to stories of these preventable crashes. A few minutes ago, I read about a road maintenance crew worker struck and killed by a motorist while placing orange cones. Unfortunately, incidents like this happen so frequently that they sometimes don’t even get reported.

I once wrote a piece about my son, who is a paramedic and first responder. Since that time, my daughter has become an EMT, so I am genuinely invested in this safety issue. When I had a conversation with my son this past weekend regarding this topic, he and his co-workers experience many close calls with vehicles due to drivers not moving over while working the scene of a crash. He shared that his crew works very quickly to get the injured loaded into the ambulance to get off the roadway due to the high risk of being hit.?

Seriously: how many of us work at a job where safety is a constant concern while performing our duties? Many jobs have risks, but personal protective equipment (PPE) is usually provided to mitigate risks. What PPE is available to protect workers on the roadway when they’re at their most vulnerable? These are professionals doing a job, and in some cases, they’re providing care that can mean the difference between life and death. How can they possibly do their job while also having to watch for approaching motorists?

This goes beyond the constant risk to workers on the road. There are also costs to the employer in the event of a collision, including rehiring, retraining, loss of institutional knowledge, and so much more. You’ve heard me talk on this topic many times. The bottom line: this issue ought to be a significant employer motivator for preventative action.?

No matter how you look at it, the data around roadway collisions with responders and workers is unacceptable. In fact, calling this “data” falls short. These are real people - they’re our coworkers, our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. Am I personally concerned as a parent of two first responders? Absolutely. Should I have been concerned before? Absolutely. But I lacked this depth of knowledge. My short time at HAAS Alert has already corrected that.

Here’s the good news: of all the safety challenges we face, this particular problem is one we can solve. One thing I’ve trained others on is following the rules of the road. Well, there are Move Over laws in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Who covers this in your driver safety? How often are employees and everyday drivers reminded of this? This is just some early food for thought, but as a driver safety advocate and parent, this issue drives home the reality that we can’t keep letting these preventable injuries and fatalities occur. It pains me to say that one day, it might be my kids - and that’s why you’ll be hearing more from me on this topic in the months ahead.

Until then, stay safe!