Safe while you’re out: how companies can prevent road accidents effectively

From the construction site to the sales force: many employees spend hours on the road every day. What is part of everyday life for many companies entails an often underestimated risk. A large proportion of all road accidents occur on the way to or from work. A recent study by the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) commissioned by the AXA Foundation for Prevention (in German) clearly shows that working conditions and corporate culture have a direct impact on road safety.

Road safety is occupational safety

Whether tradespeople, caregivers, or sales force staff, a large proportion of employed people in Switzerland spend several hours behind the wheel every day. Anyone who travels a lot for work has a significantly higher risk of accidents.
Only rarely are the causes of these solely due to individual behavior. Working pressure, tight schedules, tiredness and stress all have a major impact on how safely you drive. Road safety is therefore not just an issue for the road – it begins in the company.
Managers who take health and safety seriously not only protect their employees, but also their business model. Because every accident means human suffering and causes downtime, lost productivity and rising insurance costs.

What the HSLU study shows: Working conditions affect the risk of accidents 

The “Health and Safety in Road Traffic” study surveyed frequent drivers, company representatives, and experts and analyzed vehicle data of more than 1.25 million trips. The results speak for themselves:

• Strong time pressure, shift work and long driving times increase the risk of accidents. When employees constantly work against the clock, concentration and reaction suffer.
• Tiredness and distractions, such as answering the phone while driving, are common triggers for dangerous situations. 
• Stress at work not only leads to exhaustion and long-term health problems, but also to more driving mistakes.
• Companies with clear safety rules, regular training and open communication report significantly fewer accidents.

Industries in which driving is a secondary activity, such as trades, social services or restaurants, are particularly at risk. There is often a lack of awareness that even short journeys are part of occupational safety.

The role of companies: Safety is a management task

Many accidents can be prevented if companies focus specifically on prevention. The HSLU researchers show that a strong safety culture is key.
It starts with the leadership. When managers set an example of safety, communicate clear rules and set realistic timetables, employees’ safety behavior changes positively. At the same time, structural measures are crucial:

• Flexible break rules and optimal route planning reduce stress and increase performance.
• Health-promoting programs strengthen employees’ resilience and wellbeing. Holistic Corporate Health Management (CHM) not only supports physical but also mental fitness – both essential factors for safe driving.
• Open communication and trust promote personal responsibility and heighten risk awareness in the team.

Companies that take this issue seriously benefit in several ways: They reduce accidents and absenteeism, lower their costs and make them more attractive as an employer in times of shortages of skilled workers.

Prevention pays off – both in human and economic terms

Road safety is not a coincidence, but the result of conscious decisions. Companies that invest in healthy working conditions, targeted awareness-raising and state-of-the-art technology not only reduce their accident risk. They take responsibility for their most important resource: their employees.

The benefits are measurable and convincing: 

• Fewer accidents and illness-related absences
• Greater satisfaction, motivation and loyalty in the team
• Lower insurance and consequential costs
• A strong, responsible corporate image

Because one thing is certain: road safety starts in the office and affects the road.