Jason Gambill, Safety Program
More WSDA staff are traveling again than they have in the past two years. And more drivers in general are back out on the road.
With travel come risks. In 2021, WSDA employees were involved in 13 car accidents or near misses. The individual costs of such incidents involve possible injury, as well as the stress and time spent dealing with the response.
They are also expensive for WSDA. Those vehicle accidents in 2021 cost the agency $26,246.
We are covered by a self-insurance policy that is set aside for third-party indemnity payouts. Because we do not carry commercial insurance, accident repair costs come from division and program budgets.
Be on the defensive
Only you can control your own vehicle. We can’t predict what others around you will do. But you can drive defensively, which means being alert and prepared to react to other drivers.
Follow these best practices when you’re getting behind the wheel:
- Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination; rushing increases risk.
- Eliminate distractions while driving, such as being on a cell phone, eating, or adjusting settings on the dashboard.
- Allow at least 3-4 seconds of reaction time between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Be courteous to and cautious of other drivers. Even those who aren’t driving safely; give them plenty of space.
- Have a plan for an alternate route, in case of an accident or roadway closure in your path.
- Be aware of and prepared for the road conditions during inclement weather.
This year, the Safety Program has partnered with other agency programs to test out several backup cameras to see if these can make a difference in reducing vehicle accidents.
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| State vehicle after crash, 2018. |
If you travel for work, become educated with the basics of defensive driving. The Department of Enterprise Services offers safe driving videos and a defensive driving training course for state employees.
Defensivedriving.org, which aims to save drivers money on vehicle insurance through safe practices, offer 10 key defensive driving techniques.
In summary: More WSDA staff are traveling again than they have in the past two years. And more drivers in general are back out on the road. With travel come risks. Only you can control your own vehicle. We can’t predict what others around you will do. But you can drive defensively, which means being alert and prepared to react to other drivers. Learn more in this Insider blog post.
