NIOSH releases safe driving fact sheets for teen workers

Washington – Two new fact sheets from NIOSH provide information aimed at helping young workers drive safely.

Motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of on-the-job deaths among workers 16 to 24 years old, according to NIOSH. Risk factors include driving inexperience, overestimating driving skills, immaturity, being distracted by talking on a cell phone or eating, and fatigue.

One fact sheet provides advice for employers, such as:

• Only allow workers 18 or older to operate vehicles
• Require safety belt use
• Provide driver training
• Make sure the vehicle is in proper working condition
• Implement adverse weather policies
• Schedule work so drivers can safely make time-sensitive deliveries

A second fact sheet has tips for parents of young workers, including:

• Be aware of the tasks involved in the teen’s job
• Talk about driving in bad weather
• Emphasize the importance of wearing safety belts, obeying the speed limit and maintaining a safe following distance
• Ask if the employer has provided driver training
• Be alert for signs of fatigue in your teen