PHH promotes National Drive Safely at Work Week
13 April 1998
PHH promotes National Drive Safely at Work Week
HUNT VALLEY, Md., April 13 -- It's a national tragedy -- over
2,000 people each year die in on-the-job automobile crashes, hundreds of
thousands more are injured, and the resulting cost to employers is $54.7
billion. In fact, traffic crashes are the number one killer of America's
workforce. But most people aren't aware of these facts.
PHH Vehicle Management Services, a leading advocate for driver safety in
the vehicle management industry, will join with hundreds of other employers
across the country to promote National Drive Safely at Work Week, April 20-24,
1998. The goal: to dramatically reduce on-the-job traffic crashes through
education and awareness programs. It is estimated that, if every driver in
America followed some basic rules of safety for just one week, the U.S. could
save 800 lives and $3 billion.
This annual national awareness campaign is led by the Network of Employers
for Traffic Safety (NETS), which PHH helped to found in 1989; and Mitsubishi
Motor Sales of America, Inc. PHH was instrumental in creating the first
National Drive Safely at Work Week in 1997, which included over 200
participating organizations nationwide. PHH received NETS' Award of Excellence
in 1997 for its strong, long-term record in promoting driver safety.
Mark Miller, President of PHH Vehicle Management Services, says, "PHH has
always believed in the importance of maximizing driver safety, and we were the
first in the industry to develop a fleet safety program. Our concern extends
to our employees, and we plan to make National Drive Safely at Work Week a
high-profile awareness effort. We are also promoting it with our vehicle
management clients and encouraging their participation. Educating and
training employees in the workplace has a ripple effect -- they in turn talk
with their families and friends about safety issues. Everything we do to
increase safety behind the wheel has one major purpose -- to save lives. And,
if more and more people know and follow these simple safety guidelines, it
will help reduce our daily stress on the road."
Education and training save lives and reduce costs
PHH estimates that the average total cost per crash, including property
and vehicle damage, medical costs, workers' compensation, replacement vehicles
and other "hidden" costs, approaches $10,000 per crash. Reducing these
crashes can have a major impact on an organization's bottom line, in addition
to maintaining the health and safety of employees. "Studies have shown that
safety programs like driver training reduce crash rates among corporate
drivers by as much as 25 percent," says Lisa Askin, PHH's director of Accident
and Risk Management.
A leader in safety and accident management, PHH was among the first
companies to develop programs that provide safety policy consulting, accident
recordkeeping, repair management, driver safety profiles and evaluations,
driver training, and emergency roadside assistance for companies and
employees.
National Drive Safely at Work Week focuses on five safety measures,
including buckling seat belts, driving sober, sharing the road safely with
trucks and other large vehicles, being rested when driving, and avoiding "road
rage." Much in the news recently, road rage has reached epidemic proportions
and significantly added to the number of traffic crashes and fatalities.
During National Drive Safely at Work Week, PHH will focus on one of these
key traffic safety issues each day to educate and raise the awareness of its
employees. The company will also sponsor driver training sessions and offer
vehicle equipment safety kits to employees at a discount. These kits, which
contain personal safety items and basic supplies to remedy common breakdowns,
are ideal for placing in the vehicle trunk for emergency situations. PHH is
also supporting National Drive Safely at Work Week on its Web site at
http://www.phh.com.
Founded in 1946, PHH Vehicle Management Services is a leading global
vehicle management company. PHH manages the vehicles of nearly one-third of
the Fortune 500 companies, and its total fleet exceeds 600,000 vehicles across
North America and Europe. It is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation
, the world's premier consumer and business services company.
SOURCE PHH Vehicle Management Services