Teach employees to drive safe and smart. When you think of safety hazards and employee injuries, you probably focus on what goes on inside your workplace. But one of the greatest threats to worker safety is in the parking lot. Whether they drive on the job or commute to work by car, defensive driving training is a must for all employees at all levels in your organization. Here are some basic rules of defensive driving that you can use as training points:

• Buckle up for safety.
• Follow traffic rules, signs, and signals.
• Don't speed and keep at least 2 to 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front.
• Keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your attention on traffic.
• Check your rearview and side mirrors frequently.
• Adjust your speed and driving to changing weather and traffic conditions.
• Expect the unexpected and be especially alert in heavy traffic for sudden stops, vehicles passing or moving in and out of lanes, road debris, and work zones.
• Keep cool, yield right of way, and don't get into disputes with other drivers.
• Pull over to make or receive phone calls.
• Don't drink or take drugs and drive.

Don't forget to mention vehicle maintenance. A safe, roadworthy vehicle is an indispensable part of driving safely. If the vehicle is unsafe, the driver--and others on the road--are at risk.

Teach your employees to keep their vehicles properly maintained and follow the auto manufacturer's recommendations for oil changes, tune-ups, and so on. Also, remind them to inspect their vehicles frequently between service checkups. Here are some things they should look for:

• Are tires in good condition and are they inflated to the right pressure?
• Are headlights and taillights clean and working?
• Are directional signals and emergency flashers operating properly?
• Are oil, coolant, and other fluids at the correct level?
• Are belts and wires in good condition?
• Are brakes working properly?

Talk about driving in the dark, too. It probably comes as no surprise that there is a greater risk of accidents at night. In addition, night crashes tend to be more severe. To help keep your employees safe on the roads when it's dark out, remind them of these safety tips:

• Start taking precautions as soon as the sun goes down. Dusk is one of the most dangerous times of day on the road.
• Slow down and increase your following distance. Darkness makes judging distances harder.
• Don't overdrive your headlights. You need to see this far in order to be able to slow and stop safely when necessary.
• Take precautions not to be blinded by oncoming headlights. Shift your eyes momentarily to the right side of road and use the white lines to guide your steering.