Driving safety tips – supporting employee wellbeing beyond the car

Providing employees with access to a car benefit is a great way to ensure your people are driving the latest, safest models. But with car thefts up by 50% in 2018, drivers need to know how to protect themselves and their vehicles.

Show your people that you care about their wellbeing by promoting these driving safety tips within your organisation.

FOIL RELAY ATTACKS WITH METAL

It might sound like some sort of violent running race, but relay attacks are high-tech strikes that help criminals gain access to cars with keyless entry.

Criminals work in pairs using electronic signal relay devices. The first person uses the gadget to receive a signal from the car keys that are inside a home or office. This signal is transferred to a second box which has been placed next to the vehicle. The car is tricked into thinking it’s been unlocked by the owner allowing thieves to drive away without a single window being broken.

What to tell your employees: store your keys in a metal box at home or filing cabinet or metal desk draw at work as thieves’ electronic signals can breach doors, walls and windows but not metal.

CRIPPLE CAR JACKERS WITH THESE SIMPLE SAFETY MEASURES

Carjacking takes place when a vehicle is in slow-moving or stationary traffic or when a driver enters or exits the car. Attackers will forcibly remove people from their vehicle or threaten drivers to gain access to their keys. Although most attacks only last 20 to 30 seconds, they can be truly terrifying experiences.

What to tell your employees: the best way to put would-be attackers off is to make yourself a difficult target:

• Park in a well-lit area, near the building you’re visiting
• Install lighting on home driveways to put attackers off
• Don’t park next to large vehicles or areas of thick foliage that could mask thieves
• Keep doors locked at all times when inside your car
• In traffic, leave enough room between your car and the vehicle in front so you can see their tyres – this should give you enough room to drive off if required

MAKE YOUR PARKED CAR LOOK MORE DIFFICULT TO STEAL

Drivers often arrive at their destination without being fully present for the entire journey. However, it pays to be switched-on when it comes to parking as the way drivers park can reduce the likelihood of theft.

What to tell your employees: thieves like an easy steal so parking with tyres facing towards a kerb; another vehicle or building can act as a deterrent. Why? Because extra manoeuvering can be the difference between being caught and a clean getaway. Of course, sensible steps like parking in well-lit areas or near CCTV are also off-putting for would-be car burglars.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF VISIBLE SECURITY MEASURES

They might feel a little 1990 but adding a visual deterrent to your car is a great way to avoid car theft, particularly in the digital age. As we’ve already established, thieves want to follow the path of least resistance so making your car look too difficult to steal means crooks are more likely to walk on by.

What to tell your employees: invest in a steering wheel, gear stick or pedal locks to send opportunistic thieves packing.

Set out driving security procedures for business trips

As an employer, you’ve got a duty of care to your staff when travelling on business. Whether your people are using a rental, their company car or their own personal vehicle, the more you can do to help them be secure, the better.

What to tell your employees: remind employees to review the company driving policy if they’ve not travelled on business for a while. And share any near misses or safety scares with staff so everyone can learn about the risks and take steps to keep themselves safe.

We can all be a little blase about our own safety so it pays to remind employees about the safety risks associated with their vehicles. Why not take the tips in these articles and add them to your travel or car policy?

Guard your employees’ health and wellbeing with modern, safe cars by requesting more information on our leading company car scheme.