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PennDOT Helps Bayer Save Money & Lives

18 October 2000

PennDOT Helps Bayer Save Money & Lives

    BRIDGEVILLE, Pa., Oct. 18 A seat belt usage survey
conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on the campus of
Pittsburgh-based Bayer Corporation showed 77% of their employees arrived at
work wearing seat belts.  The statewide goal for seatbelt use is 73% by 2002.
Bayer's average exceeds the current statewide rates of 69.7%.  Bayer conducts
monthly safety meetings on various subjects from workplace safety to driving
in winter conditions for all 22,000 employees at all 50 sites nationwide.
    A first-ever corporate seatbelt safety initiative involving the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and a Pennsylvania Fortune 500
Company has shown employees committed to safety can help reduce economic loss
and assist with reaching PennDOT's statewide goal for increased seatbelt use.
    In 1999, the economic loss due to traffic crashes was $1,022 to every man,
woman and child in Pennsylvania.  Last year, 144,171 motor vehicle crashes
cost Pennsylvania over $12 billion in economic loss due to reportable traffic
crashes.  Based on Pennsylvania's 1999 population (11,994,016), 1 out of every
33 people was involved in a crash and 1 out of every 7,743 people was killed.
    PennDOT's corporate safety program compliments Bayer's philosophy of
Continuous Improvement Safety Process.  PennDOT is constantly looking for ways
to improve highways and educate motorists on safer driving.
    The higher-than-average outcome of the survey didn't satisfy Bayer Safety
officials.  "People need to be safe both on and off the job," said John
Polehemus, Bayer Corporation Director of Safety.  "While our seatbelt use is
higher than the state average, we can do better," he said.  "The only
acceptable number is 100 percent.  We don't like our employees to be at
unacceptable risk either on or off the job."

    Survey Methodology:  *The initial seatbelt survey recorded usage by
1,665 drivers and passengers, using all eight entrances to the parking lots on
campus between 6:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.  1,253 people were observed wearing
seatbelts by twenty-eight Bayer employee volunteers assisting PennDOT Safety
Community Relations Coordinator, Catherine Tress.  After educational
presentations to employees at Bayer's monthly safety meetings, a post
education survey was conducted a month later with improved results.  Seatbelt
usage was up to 84%.
    The estimated economic savings of 100% belt use in 1999 would have been
$2.6 billion or approximately $220 for every man, woman and child in
Pennsylvania.  Safety belts reduce the chance of injury or death by 45%.  Each
day during 1999 in Pennsylvania, it is estimated that 367 persons were injured
in reportable crashes or about 15 injuries per hour and one death every
6 hours with most crashes within a 10-mile radius of their home.