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